"Trouble There on the Frontier" by Steven D. Schroeder

Steven D. Schroeder was one of three featured readers at Duff's on February 28.

The next reading at Duff's, 392 North Euclid, will be Monday, March 14. Featured readers will be Kristina Marie Darling, •chance operations• co-founder Chris Parr, and Buzz Spector. Musical guest will be Learn, Artist!; doors open at 7:30 p.m. Advance sign-up for the open-mic following the featured readers is encouraged. Cover charge is $3.00.

Trouble There on the Frontier

When water and government and children disappear
We take apocalyptic scripture seriouser and seriouser.

Coyotes mentor hens in history of the West they alter,
Chant chicken neck chicken foot then put them on the altar.

Legs of rumor running down this cowtown spread
Plagues and fantail sprays colored chorus girl red.

Hot shotgun hut admits no sunlight so we burn it.
Horse of course can’t recanter its curses so we burn it.

We draw Colt Peacemakers and X’s all over our maps
Traveled in covered wagons circling back to traps.

Autocracy and automobile and automatic buffalo
Sheriff’s deputies and dentists moved from Buffalo.
Trainhorn don't you know there’s no return to buffalo?

-- Steven D. Schroeder

Note: Originally published in Pleiades.