he steps between the pumps pulls his brim down low
machinations underneath the faded Texaco
his fingers nicotined and slowly turning brown
yellow slicker for a husk and the rain is coming down
his every breath exhaled tinged in crimson from the light
of a buzzing neon star dangling in the oily night
he takes the change in hand counting as they pennies fall
every word a rosary sons of bitches one and all
Iowa
spilling blood into the soil
plastic flowers on a cross
liniments and pennyroyal
Iowa
waking from an early freeze
shifting bodies in degrees
she changes everything
these buildings that we see standing bones above the dirt
fingers to the firmament welded fossils and cement
the pavement drawn below pigeons up above
flutter gently and reply Iowa is passing by
Iowa
spilling blood into the soil
plastic flowers on a cross
liniments and pennyroyal
Iowa
waking from an early freeze
shifting bodies in degrees
she changes everything
the apparitions blur the rain is slower now
his heels sink in the mud sculpting patterns in the ground
he leans over the match cradling the flame
and Iowa remains and Iowa remains
Iowa
spilling blood into the soil
plastic flowers on a cross
liniments and pennyroyal
Iowa
waking from an early freeze
shifting bodies in degrees
she changes everything