“
I Never Knew What They Meant by Flyover Country
until the first time someone put me on a plane, windowed me
into the congregation looking down on our fields stretched out
endless in orderly blanks, redactions in the transcripts of the trial
of man versus nature. All this holy squinting at scrimshaw country
roads draped with power lines - trip wires lying in wait for the giants
we just sort of mice around. I watched the others look down on
our Fridays racing Opal Road to hit the tiny hill that drops stomachs
like a roller coaster, headlights off for cops. Eighty; Ninety. Ninety-five
in a fifty-five, how Kyle's brother talked about defusing IEDs on tour -
snip whichever wire you want, you'll only find out if you're a hero.
We learned a word for this, its reckless in court, predestination
in church. Funny how a thing gets a different name there. Robe becomes
vestment. Bench becomes pew. Truth grows a capital letter. Anything
to help believe, Mom says, though when it comes to theology we are
Presbyterian in casseroles only. This is the word of God, says the pastor
into the microphone. See you at the picnic after. See you at the finish,
says Kyle's Honda Civic. See you never says his brother's IED.
”
”