MY DAD'S PICTURE

My dad wanted his picture
taken in front of the car
so we snapped him
felt cattleman's hat
floppy
relaxed, arm over hood decoration
looked like he had his mind
in futures

then he herded us back in
the car and drove into the ditch
up into the field and started
bumping the car across furrows
dust constant
empty space wheat heads
on the window ledge
heat filling the car
we drove for miles this way
he smiled into the rearview mirror
watching his birthmark
grow from purple to red
"This'll make 20 bushels."

My mother held herself big
on her seat--she didn't look
at me she said, "You pay that last
note--you put some money in the bank?
I need a new Electrolux."

"Sure,"he said.