July

Long freight, soy smell

diesel horn thru town

at every grade crossing

folks turning the radio up

each lost in own thoughts.

Triple digit temp day

air-con on, windows up

solo inner-space capsule

closed and complete.

*

Livestock now, a mixed

consignment, silent, staring

thru their slat-walled cages

at the passing panorama of

their one and only, final trip.