Moon Rising

Moon rising...
Touches my window;
Tin glows, soft.

Tin Can

Tin can...
Kinda handy ~
If ya gotta spit.

Barefootin'

Barefootin'
What a chore ~
To put on shoes.

Stand Still, Cleburne

Stand still, Cleburne.
Suck in yer gut.
Say, "Cheese"!

My Old Lady

My old lady ~
Turned me in...
Fer the reward.

Mason Jar

Mason jar...
Catch the moon!
White liquor.

Pork 'n' Beans

Pork 'n' beans
Ain't a main dish...
It's a side.

Tokers' Haze ~

Tokers' haze ~
A fat roach
Makes the rounds.

Ain't No Jobs

Ain't no jobs ~
In that racin' column.
Try the classifieds.

Moon Pies...

Moon pies...
So big and round;
Stuffin' my face.

Floozie, Nuthin'!

Floozie nuthin'!
I paid ten bucks
Fer this dress.

You Idiot!

You idiot!
Africa ain't a state.
Not in this country.

A Thong

A thong;
Sixty-inch hips...
Scary.

Paycheck?

Paycheck?
Done spent.
I played Lotto.

False Lashes

False lashes;
Cheeks, so wrinkled.
She winks...

Muddy Boots

Muddy boots;
Feet up on the table.
My old man...

No Job...

No job...
No money.
No fair!

Huh! That Ermaline!

Huh! That Ermaline!
Thinks she's royalty...
In a pig's eye.

A Old School Bus

A old school bus ~
Just the back half;
My home.

Armchair.

Armchair.
How it creaks!
Fat woman.

Crop Top

Crop top;
Short shorts;
Eight months pregnant...

More Mayonnaise

More mayonnaise!
More. More. More.
Keep shovellin'!

Leaky Ceiling

Leaky ceiling;
Stains, so brown!
Widening.

Five by Five

Five by five;
My living room!
Suits me... fine.

Silver Streaks...

Silver Streaks...
Row upon row;
Shining.

Little Debbie

Little Debbie...
Moon Pie, Co-Cola.
Breakfast!

Frizzy Blonde

Frizzy blonde;
Black roots shine...
So oily!

She Walks

She walks;
Big hips, swaying...
The floor sags.

Dawn... First Light.

Dawn... first light.
Bleary eyes!
I stagger home.

I Poached Us

I poached us
Some good eatin'...
And I don't mean eggs.

This Haiku ~

This haiku ~
Ain't much good...
But it did get wrote.

Find the Clerk

Find the clerk...
I need that bikini ~
In 6X.

Mourning...

Mourning...
ATV, now gone.
We divorced.

Truck... No Tires

Truck... no tires.
Trailer... no wheels.
Me... no cash.

Marriage...

Marriage...
The third time ~
Is a charm.

Cubic Zirconia

Cubic zirconia...
Because I pawned
Her real one.

Silver Discs

Silver discs...
Hubcaps, in long rows ~
Catch the sun.

Black Gap

Black Gap;
Every other tooth.
She smiles...

Naked Toddler

Naked toddler.
Pampers... or new TV?
Hard choice.

Overalls. No Shirt.

Overalls. No shirt.
Tattoos, displayed proudly!
For the girls...

Our Trailer

Our trailer;
Now swaybacked ~
Sorta leans...

Tin Roof

Tin roof, darkened;
Shades of rust...
Fallen dew.

Thet Kid Lives

Thet kid lives ~
On macaroni...
And ketchup!

Give Us a Leg Up

Give us a leg up...
That bottom step done broke ~
Clean through.

Classy Joint!

Classy joint!
Coconut. Rum.
And little parasols...

Sirens!

Sirens!
Haul ass, boys...
It's the law!

Dang It!

Dang it!
Don't hog all the beer ~
Grandma.

Dusty Road...

Dusty road...
So many miles ~
Fer one six-pack.

Mullet Man

Hair, so tall;
But long, in back...
Bleached by the sun.

Mullet... So Long

Mullet... so long;
Nurtured for years.
He is proud.

Old Tires

Old tires...
Stacks and stacks ~
Wall of rubber.

Sometimes I Dream

Sometimes I dream
This old tin box ~
Into a doublewide...

Big Mullet

Big mullet;
He combs it back...
Stud, so ready.

Scrapper...

Scrapper...
Small, but wiry.
"Kick your ass, man!"

News Crew: Big Wreck.

News crew: big wreck.
"Yeah, I seen it."
Film at eleven...

Floozie! Whut a Dress.

Floozie! Whut a dress.
I just wonder ~
Wher she got it...

Pool Hall

Pool hall.
Big fight... damn!
Call the law.

My Bride Awaits...

My bride awaits...
Young, impatient!
Her mama won't sign.

Tease, Tease!

Tease, tease!
Bouffant hairdo...
Her birthright.

Old Carburetor

Old carburetor ~
Disassembled;
Awaits my whim.

Bubba Ain't Much

Bubba ain't much;
But, I love 'im.
Gap teeth and all...

Shoes Does Better

Shoes does better...
Once somebody else ~
Wears 'em in.

Beer Keg

Beer keg ~
Cool and drippin'...
I'm in love!

Job. Work. Money.

Job. Work. Money.
I lay here in bed ~
And think not...

Bartender!

Bartender!
Pass that broad a beer.
I feel lucky...

A Old Car Door

A old car door ~
Against the fence.
Leaning... ferever open.

Moon, Shining Soft.

Moon, shining soft... silver.
Stripes of rust, peeling paint...
How it flakes!

Silver Streak...

Silver Streak...
Once, our dream.
Now, reality!

Bridesmaids...

Bridesmaids...
Purty dresses ~
And flip flops.

Big Flesh, Flappin'!

Big flesh, flappin'!
Grandma dances ~
In her thong...

Fishin'. I Lay Here...

Fishin'. I lay here...
Keepin' one eye out ~
For the warden...

Liar!

Liar!
I ain't no thief.
You cain't prove it, nohow.

Lookit That Slut!

Lookit that slut!
Them bedsheets a'hern ~
Don't never cool.

Floozie...

Floozie...
Stuck to a barstool ~
Like glue.

River View...

River view...
Holes in the wall ~
Unpatched.

Saturday Night

Saturday night.
Whoop and holler!
Party time...

Beer Gut...

Beer gut...
Two-day stubble...
Sloppy kisses.

Satellite Dish

Satellite dish.
Round, silent...
Receiving.

Public Nuisance...

Public nuisance...
Safety hazard!
(Home, sweet home.)

Vi-eeners...

Vi-eeners...
Pink and squashy ~
Juice slides, thick.

Peroxided Hair...

Hair, peroxided.
One more bottle ~
Pour it on!

Parked Car. Necking...

Parked car. Necking...
Suddenly, a light!
The cops.

Cylinders, Rusting.

Cylinders, rusting...
Old propane tanks ~
Lie empty.

Summer Days...

Summer days...
Back yard hog pen ~
Sour smells, wafting.

Flatfoot Mama

Flatfoot mama ~
Shuffles across the street.
Four toddlers... lagging.

Cleavage...

Cleavage...
Neck to navel ~
Sagging.

"Disgraceful!" some say.

"Disgraceful!" some say.
Eyesore to them...
Home, to us.

Mini Skirt

Mini skirt:
Twenty-four-inch thighs
Over knee cleavage.

Birthday Beer

Birthday beer...
Brung to me ~
By my maw.

Sourpuss!

Sourpuss!
Face, so gloomy...
Corn cob up yer butt?

Hair, So Pale.

Hair, so pale.
Black roots, black lips...
Eyebrows, tattooed.

Coon Hound, Sleeping

Coon hound, sleeping...
Buzz! A fly.
One eye opens.

Look, a Garden

Look, a garden!
Tater peels, th'owed out ~
Sprouted, in mud.

Belly, Bulging Fat...

Belly, bulging fat...
Rebellious zipper!
Get the pliers.

Thick and Fleshy

Thick and fleshy ~
Her top spills over...
"The muffin."

Oxygen Mask...

Oxygen mask...
I push it aside ~
And have a smoke.

Closing Time...

Closing time...
Disobedient legs!
My eyelids ~ so sticky.

Job Huntin'

Job huntin'...
Tomorrow.
Today, I sleep.

Beer can

Beer can...
Clean empty.
Bummer.

I came.

I came.
I saw.
I guzzled.

Whirligigs

Whirligigs...
Flat beer cans, cut crisp...
Wind-sparkles.

Lordamercy!

Lordamercy!
Bubba'n'em
Done got hitched.

I Ain't Sure

I ain't sure
Them spike heels
Is right for church.

Above The Stove

Above the stove;
Dust lays, thick ~
On old grease.

Speckled Lampshade

Speckled lampshade.
Dead moths, in a pile;
Light, glowing dim...

PG Rating?!

PG rating?!
Thet don't make sense.
Just some tits...

Beer. It Ain't Good Warm...

Beer. It ain't good warm.
But, we got no ice.
So... I'll make do.

Bubba! He's So Shy

Bubba! He's so shy.
He won't buy my tampons.
So I got to go.

Git Some Drapes

Git some drapes.
Them winders look
Kinda gap-toothed.

Bicycle Without Spokes

Bicycle without spokes
Setting idle ~
On our front lawn.

That U-Haul

That U-Haul ~
Prob'ly shoulda went back
Two years ago...

Sunset... So Purty

Sunset... so purty.
Our trailer, now rosy pink...
The mud don't show.

Hole in the Roof

Hole in the roof ~
I lay in bed...
Star gazin'.

Fancy Restrunt

Fancy restrunt ~
Cloth napkins... candles...
My beer in a glass!

Winders

Winders ~
All boarded up...
Looks lonesome.

Old Tires

Old tires...
Strewn in a row:
Rubber sidewalk.

Jailbait!

Jailbait!
Although...
She looked eighteen.

Bubba Farted

Bubba farted...
Lord have mercy!
Cler the room!

Commode, Stopped Up

Commode, stopped up.
What a turd!
Git the plunger...

A Touch of Primer

A touch of primer ~
And thet ol' truck
Is good as new.

Look at Thet Fool!

Look at thet fool!
Lord knows, he ain't much...
But he's mine.

Old Wheels, Rusting.

Old wheels, rusting...
Our home ain't mobile
No more.

The Cops Got Earl

The cops got Earl!
That bad leg
Slowed him down.

Ooh, Spray Them Roaches!

Ooh, spray them roaches!
If it's one thing I can't stand ~
It's bugs on my bed.

Quit Yer Braggin'

Quit yer braggin'.
Don't try to con me ~
You ain't rich.

Leaky Roof

Leaky roof.
I can fix that ~
With duct tape.

Patterns

Patterns...
Tin-can mosaics...
Littered driveway.

Canned Vi-eeners

Canned Vi-eeners ~
Fat jaws, stuffed full.
Still, she wants more...

Tarps With Duct Tape

Tarps with duct tape
Covers my treasures.
Some call it trash.

Hey, Pumpkin ~

Hey, Pumpkin ~
Tell the old lady
To bring me a beer.

Roadhouse

Roadhouse.
Peanuts on the floor...
Now, that's class!

Vern Got Sent Up

Vern got sent up...
Fifteen years to life.
They lied against 'im.

Ervin Cooked Dinner!

Ervin cooked dinner!
Well, he opened a can...
But that's somethin'!

Working

Working...
Just ain't what
It's cracked up to be.

I Need a New Place

I need a new place.
My old man was cookin' meth ~
And burned the joint down.

I'm Gettin' This Bra

I'm gettin' this bra.
You watch the clerk ~
I'll switch the tag.

Here's My Show!

Here's my show!
"Dog, the Bounty Hunter."
Now, he's a hunk!

Sheets in the Winder

Sheets in the winder...
Wavin' in the breeze ~
Like real curtains.

Dimpled Knees

Dimpled knees ~
Under big slabs of thigh...
And short shorts.

They Won't Card Lou

They won't card Lou...
She may be fifteen ~
But she looks thirty!

Let's Go to Billy Bob's

Let's go to Billy Bob's.
It's two-fer beer night ~
And they got pork rinds!

A Garden Grows

A garden grows.
Tater peels we th'owed~
In the mud.

Weddin' Clothes

Weddin' clothes?!
I'm wearin' camo!
I ain't proud.

Orange Cola

Orange cola...
Juice ain't half as good!
But WIC won't pay.

Thick and Fleshy

Thick and fleshy ~
Spilling over her bra...
"The muffin."

Neighbors Gripe

Neighbors gripe...
Our yard, grown with weeds ~
Let's get a goat.

One Day

One day...
I'm 'onna fix up
That old Ford.

Oil leaks...

Oil leaks...
Making rainbows
In the mud.

Come 'ere, Cleturn.

Come 'ere, Cleturn.
Hop in that dumpster...
I want them shoes!

Them Durn Inspectors

Them durn inspectors
Done declared our place
A health hazard.

A Ford Rusts

A Ford rusts...
Sunshine on cracked glass ~
Glinting.

Them Two Ain't Got

Them two aint got
Two cents to rub together ~
But they done got hitched!

I Don't See...

I don't see what
Our trailer has to do
With public health.

Our Trailer

Our trailer.
It ain't a palace ~
By no long shot.

You Don't Need No Step.

You don't need no step.
Just set in the door ~
And scoot in on yer butt.

Build Me a Step.

Build me a step.
Granny can't climb
Through the door no more.

This Town Got Some Nerve!

This town got some nerve!
Clean our yard without asking ~
Then they bill us!

Open Hood, Rusting

Open hood, rusting...
A tree, where engine once was...
Glassless windows bloom.

Stall Yer Old Man!

Stall yer old man!
You keep him busy ~
I'll slip out the back.

Oh, How Cute!

Oh, how cute!
Look at them plaskit owls!
I got to git one.

Them Black Roots

Them black roots
Has grew back so fast!
I got to touch up.

Buttercups

Buttercups
Speckle the hillside
With plastic.

A New Spot of Grass

A new spot of grass
Grows bright green in the old spot
Where the outhouse stood.

Double-Wide

Double-wide ~
Big gold mirrors... jacuzzi...
That's my dream.

I Love Art

I love art!
I bought me a Elvis
On black velvet.

Git Yer Ass...

Git yer ass
Off my property,
Repo man!

Our lawn, now empty

Our lawn, now empty.
Dead grass in random shapes...
Where junk once lay.

Button on a String

Button on a string ~
It makes a good birthday gift.
Or so I'm told.

Cold Beer in Neon

"Cold beer" in neon ~
Begging me to come in...
Home away from home!

Garbage in the Yard

Garbage in the yard.
To keep up with the Joneses
We need lots more junk.

Barefoot Kids

Barefoot kids ~
Playing in the dirt.
Happiness!

Thin Panel Walls

Thin panel walls;
Sagging floors, small rooms and hall...
Home sweet single wide.

That's My Old Lady

That's my old lady.
She does anything I say.
I keep her in line.

My Tattoo

My tattoo
Of girls' names marked out
Grows longer.

Pull My Finger

Pull my finger!
Very useful words...
But not in church.

Plastic Flowers

Plastic flowers
Lined along the driveway
Bloom all year.

Swats the Flies

Swats the flies...
Brings me a cold beer...
She loves me!

Possums

I've been told ~
Possums don't make good pets.
But I still want one.

Toilet...

Toilet filled with plants.
Rusty car propped up on blocks.
High-class yard decor.

Come to Dinner ~

Come to dinner ~
I cooked chili. Two cans.
With vi-eeners.

Fowl Warriors

Fowl warriors.
Bloody pit and claws.
Cock fight!

Grab Them Birds!

Grab them birds!
Some dame called the law.
Run, boys, run!

Sidewalk Mosaic

Sidewalk mosaic...
Bottletops and bits of trash ~
Frozen in black ice.

Look at this!

Look at this!
Earl's in the paper ~
Police reports.

Clotiller!

Clotiller!
Git yer butt home now !
And bring beer.

Are You Reading?

Are you reading?
I read a book oncet.
It wadn't much.

I Ain't Too Hungry

I ain't too hungry ~
Git me two large fries.
And a shake.

I Suwannee!

I suwanee!
That littlun of June's ~
I ain't never...

Well! If it ain't Murl!

Well! If it ain't Murl!
Kick them cans out-th' way!
Come in and set down.

Porcelain

Porcelain.
Dull brown film of rust.
Our commode.

Dang it, Earl!

Dang it, Earl!
You still ain't fixed that winder.
Get the duct tape.

Good Lord, June!

Good Lord, June!
You ain't got no sense.
Not a lick.

Jake Got Caught!

Jake got caught!
They thowed him in jail.
With no bail.

It's Payday...

It's payday...
I done worked a week.
Time to quit!

Shut Yer Mouth

Shut yer mouth!
You ain't foolin' me...
I ain't dumb.

Curling Hose

Curling hose.
Gas flows into my tank.
I siphon yours.

Money Talks

Money talks.
And you ain't got none...
So shut up.

That Social Worker

That social worker ~
She says school is free.
So I got to go.

Ther is laws...

Ther is laws...
What Clive done ain't right.
Bigamy!

Quit Eyein' That Girl!

Quit eyein' that girl!
And roll yer tongue in, Eugene.
That gal is jailbait.

Vast Expanse...

Vast expanse...
Linoleum hall:
A roach crawls.

Deziree Hobert!

Deziree Hobert!
Get yer butt in this trailer!
Leave off them boys.

Look at Thet Old Ford

Look at thet old Ford.
I could hotwar it easy!
Let's just hope it runs.

Idiots!

Idiots!
They think they're so smart...
But they ain't.

Well, I'll Be!

Well, I'll be! It's Maud.
And just in time to see Earl ~
He done got paroled.

Hush! It's cler...

Hush! It's cler...
Maybelle is preggers ~
But Vern ain't wise.

If I Said It Oncet

If I said it oncet,
I said it a thousand times:
June ain't got no sense.

Hard Dried Food

Hard dried food.
Bumps on the table.
Feels gritty.

Lord Hep Us!

Lord hep us!
Pearl got her ass whupped.
Call the law!

Now I Know

Now I know
Why Clo looks so fat...
She's knocked up!

Them Britches

Well I know
Them britches don't fit.
But they'll do.

Trailer Park

Trailer park.
Clean and sparkly white.
Snow has fell.

Dirty Clothes

Dirty clothes
Laying on the floor
Smells so sour.

Let's Drop in...

Let's drop in next door.
Angeleener done told me
Clo cooked a meatloaf.

Lots of Men

Lots of men
Would give ther right arm
To be Earl.

Thet Poor Little Kid

Thet poor little kid.
She never knowed her Deddy.
He come from up north.

They Ain't Many Folks

They ain't many folks
Would do whut you done for me.
So I'll bail you out.

I Don't Want No Job

I don't want no job.
But thet-ere social worker
Says I got to look.

Lord, Lord, Lord...

Lord, Lord, Lord...
Whut Bubba won't do!
He's a case.

Call Clovis

Call Clovis...
Tell her to hump it!
It's the cops.

Good Old Earl

Good old Earl!
He swiped us a ham...
Get yer plate.

Them Dumb Kids

Them dumb kids
Is playing outside
In the road.

Thet Earl Wouldn't Work

Thet Earl wouldn't work
In a whip-cream factory!
Bless his worthless heart.

Brown Windows

Brown windows.
Mud tunnels stacked thick.
Dirt daubers.

Rusty Tin

Rusty tin
Curls up from the roof...
Rain gets in.

Hey Deddy!

Hey Deddy!
Maw is headin' next door
To kick ass.

Get Back Here Miss Priss!

Get back here Miss Priss!
You ain't goin' nowhere, girl.
Just set your butt down.

Ice Crystals

Ice crystals.
Winderpanes gleam soft.
Mornin' frost.

I'm Sick of This Place

I'm sick of this place.
We been livin' here a month.
I'll pack and you tote.

Come Midnight...

Come midnight...
The landlord's asleep.
We'll skip out.

Trails of Ice

Trails of ice
Meander around
Strewn litter.

Dump That Bill

Dump that bill.
When the heat goes off
Gran will pay!

Learner's License

New learner's license?!
You can take me to the store.
I'll get us some beer.

Grab Them Teeth!

Grab them teeth!
Ma lost her dentures.
Them might fit.

You Ain't Got No Coat?

You ain't got no coat?
Don't make me no nevermind!
It ain't my problem.

Hide that Meth.

Better hide that meth.
My probation officer
Might be comin' by.

Housework

You get hoppin' Earl.
We got a notice to clean.
"City inspector."

Welcome!

Come on in!
That old hound won't bite.
Got no teeth.

Junk Cars

Here's a old tail light.
That hood might fit our old car.
Good thing we kept 'em.

That Stupid Teacher

That stupid teacher!
Don't you go to school no more!
Guess that'll learn her.

Leavings

Them diners left food!
Can you believe how wasteful?
Stick that in your tote.

Gleaming Icicles

Gleaming icicles.
We shiver beneath our quilt.
And cuss the gas man.

Company

We got company.
Sit down and take a load off...
Watch that chair ~ it's broke!

Desperate Measures

I run out of beer.
I thought I might look for work...
Unless you got more.

Bail Out

Get me my billfold.
We got to go into town.
Grandma's back in jail.

Breakfast

Morning light...
Our kids eat breakfast.
Coke and chips.

Blue Eye Shadder

Thick blue eye shadder,
Painted up to my eyebrows
Looks so elegant.

Food Pyramid

Let's eat nutritious.
Pick us up some vi-eeners.
And get me some beer.

Porch Light

Men drop by.
Drawn by my porch light...
Soft red light.

Rent

Don't pay the rent yet.
I got a chance to buy me
a used ATV.

Break of Dawn

Break of dawn. Breakfast.
Stale chips, sour dip, peanuts.
Not so bad, with beer.

Morning Sun

Morning sun.
Peelings on the floor...
Glistening.

Creeping Roach

Creeping roach
Crawls acrost my plate.
I swat him.

Laundromat

Laundromat.
I wash clothes and loaf.
Watching girls.

Candy for My Love...

Keep a lookout, hon...
I'll tilt the vending machine.
We'll have some candy!

Arguing...

My wife yells.
Brown specks hit my face.
She dips snuff.

White-Trash Woman

My white-trash woman.
My Venus of Willendorf...
Naked. Fat. Waiting.

2009

Two thousand and nine!
Second day of the New Year.
Our rent is done late.

Jailbird

I'm in jail.
I broke probation.
Bail me out.

New Year's Resolution

My Resolution:
Swipe them hubcaps off Earl's car
While he is napping.

Garbage

Garbage smells.
It ain't been took out
Since last month.

Noon Time

It's noon time.
I laze here in bed
With my hounds.

New Year's Day

We partied last night.
This trailer is a pig-sty!
Let's move out of here.

Big Red-Orange Spots

Big red-orange spots
Dotted over dull, flat gray.
Primer on my Ford.