November 14, 1996
Self-Portrait

A mobile home threaded loosely through the trees
Dusty pickup parked in the yard
Hound dog lies, dreaming
thumps his tail lazily in the sand
Cat stretched sleepily on the porch rail

Inside, a youngish man
Sprawled on the sofa
From his pipe smoke rises languidly
Sips red sangria casually
Reading Poe
Merle Haggard on the stereo

So much for stereotypes.