County of innumerable nowheres, half its dogs

underfed and of indeterminate breed. County

of the deep fryer and staples in glass against mice,

county of horned gods and billed hats. Sweat county,

shiver county. The hallowed outhouse

upholstered in wooly carpet, the sack of lime,

time out of time, county of country music.

Insufficient snowplows county, county

of the blasted doe all winter in a drift, dust sift

and feather duster county, county of the quo

all status is attached to. Of batches and bitchdogs

howling, of rowels and boots, of soot wash,

of the chimney sweep’s red beard,

of the songless radio preaching to no one in the shed.

County of the deadly road, of the shoat pig roasted

in a pit. County of molasses, hobo coffee,

and sugarless soft-drink, county of the methamphetamine

picture window, of the padlock and massive hasp.

County of tools and dewormers. Curry comb

and salt block, black pepper gravy, red-eye venison,

blood sausage, county of Bud Light girl posters.

Treblehook county, chum county, bear bait

and dead wolf county. County of the coyote pelt

nailed to the barn door. Bruised woman county,

of men missing one or more fingers, single-finger

wave county. Pistol alongside the cash register.

Pitch-dense firewood county, county of the fearful

and fearless, of the distant mysterious school.