when code is a poem

the crusty old goat

on the back of the boat

i used to ride to the city

said he wrote code

for the trip to the moon.

we all stood at the stern

on the 4:25

with our V&Ts

or our wine.

the scofflaws who smoked,

defying the prohibitive signs,

sent curling plumes

of Marlboros or Camels

over the water.

he said that his watch

had more memory

than Apollo, so the code

had to be parsed

line by line

to fit in the limited space.

more like a poem

than the sagas

of bloat for the typical game

or word processing suite.

now he was writing

some kind of thing

for a digital sniper sight

that corrected for windage

and the arc of the flight

that a bullet travels

from muzzle to target

a thousand meters away.

he finished the dregs

in his glass

went back to the bar

for another.

the herring spawn

was particularly strong

that year. as we passed

the mouth of raccoon straight

we watched ten thousand gulls

on the bay along paradise drive

diving and feasting

on roe. the crusty old coder

returned to the stern

just as a humpback

broached a few yards

from where we stood

smoking and joking.

we all gasped at the sight

of a sixteen foot tail

upright in the green waters

where it hung for a moment

like a black tower.

then slid with a hiss

back into the deep

to swallow an army of fish.

place your bet

It was chicken fried steak

and black-eyed peas day

with stacks of white bread

on the side. I said no thanks

to the chitlins and candied yams.

The last snow had melted

and the fields though muddy

would soon be ready to plow.

The silver firs were showing

their first pale needles.

I’d eaten quickly,

still had forty-five minutes

til one o'clock formation

in the alley outside the barracks

so I decided to take a nap.

The mid day March sun

warmed the wool blanket

stretched tight on my bunk,

so i lay down, luxuriating

like a dozing cat.

I awoke to the whispering

voices of six guys in my platoon

crouched around a wastebasket

in the corner of the room.

I sat up and went over

to see what they were doing.

The wastebasket had six inches

of water in the bottom

and a mouse frantically

trying to climb up

the slick gray metal walls.

The guys said, you want to get in

on the pool? a dollar a minute.

Wilson's got four minutes,

Hassel's got three. Hey, Steve,

whatta you got?

Fourteen, seventeen and twenty

are still available.

Available for what?

Hassel says, til the mouse drowns,

you in?

Birdwatching

Sooo; here I am at the hump in the street where the railroad ends behind the feed mill.

a good place to get away from the cars and the people, the shops.

Just me and the weeds sprouting up between the tracks.

That low sun on the mill, the silver guts,

god! dying light makes everything look good.

the razor wire, the broken glass.

That little pile of styrofoam cups, that soggy jacket sprawled and withered in the dirt.

Those blackberry canes shooting out big colonizing arcs,

the milkweed in bloom,

can hardly see the tracks.

That thing they say about vegetation: riotous, run riot,

that's just exactly it.

no respect for order, it's always encroaching and climbing and wedging into soft places.

Those blackbirds are finding something in that tangle.

Spiders? bugs? Seeds?

Something to sing about I guess, you happy fucking birds, what should I listen to?

I need a soundtrack for this.

huh! two dozen playlists with six varieties of self pity.

some angry ones; some I-am-not-from-this-planet-anymore oddities....

Where do I want to be? Comforted or picking scabs?

Why can't I just choose something?

That raven over there found a dead bird and grabbed it,

Smarty bird, gotta make sure I don't get that tasty treat before you do.

Everybody's always worried about somebody else stealing their treasures.

Yeah right, like I want that chewed-up slimy tennis ball, Fido.

We're the worst, though.

All those walls and gates around a bunch of shitty tract houses

crammed around a golf course

and the mini parks with their bright colored slides and climbing bars.

There's nobody there. except the kids sneaking a smoke and a beer at night.

Well. That's a community. What we all desire isn't it?

Those doves, cuddling and cooing... 

it's like my first memory:

my mother is hanging clothes out to dry and, 

and I'm sitting on the lawn beside her

looking up at the doves perched on the telephone wires,

trying to make dove sounds.... doves...

Here it's all dusty windows and plywood.

dumpsters.

And nobody's watching the weeds.

No need for happy window displays and breathless promises of satisfaction and fulfillment

if you'll just step inside and make a purchase.

Facade. What an excellent word.

Sparrows hopping up on cars, picking insects off the radiators.

I wonder how long will it take for a new species to evolve?

Black-crested Bug Pickers. Ruby-throated Fly Snatchers.

Where's the White-shouldered Fly Unzipper?

I want one of those.

But I haven't spotted any.

What's this grit in my eye?

Something crumbling?

bricks, asphalt, paint, leaves, french fries, discarded panties, dandruff, shoe leather, newspapers, bird shit, soot, me?......... empires?

Everything but plastic. How nice.

Our hamburger comes in a biodegradable little box now.

so that it can merge more gracefully with the rest of our shit.

That oughta make an interesting couple of inches in the geology about twenty million years from now. right above the disposable diaper layer.

What is this in my eye?

Ohhhh, there's an egret perched on a shopping cart in the river.

how's the fishing, sweetie?

Here's the bridge to downtown. Terra Nada.

Elm Street Americana enveloped in a thousand blocks of cheap stucco,

with ample parking.

I don't walk in that part of town, it's like walking on a treadmill without the big television tuned to Fox News.

Maybe that's why the fitness center is so popular,

you may not get anywhere but at least you can watch a freeway chase from a news chopper

or pick up some grooming tips.

swallows over the river.

catching insects on suicide missions.

It's almost dark.

riding into the sunrise (41, the final)

the sky’s turning a hazy purple in the east.

the sierra crest bites into the morning

with jagged black fangs.

east on the county two lane

in a track nose ‘34 coupe,

the cotton gives way

to the orange groves,

the flatland bows to the hills.

Loretta asleep in the back,

Ruthie asleep on his shoulder.

he kisses her hair.

at the mouth of Green’s valley

still in night deep shadow,

the unpaved track

faintly gleams.

the comforting crunch

of the gravel beneath the wheels

awakens the two sleeping women.

They watch as

the hill side oaks emerge

like hunched figures in cloaks,

dark pilgrims marching

towards the rising sun.

the rocks and the sycamores

concealed by night, revealed

by the dawn’s early light.

just as they reach the outcrop

where Green’s path begins,

the sun oozes over the ridge

bathing the land in the true gold.

five horses,

-three chestnuts, a black, and a pinto-

stand in the road like they own it.

-’cuz they do.

Henry shuts off the car.

As they climb up the path, they see Green

standing out on the porch, raising a mug

and blowing the steam over the rim

into the dew-drying-on-grass-scented air.

-Pull up a chair. I just made a pot, gathered

 a half dozen eggs.  you need a meal and rest.

 and this beautiful lady, who is she?

-I’m Loretta. Nice place you got here.

those your horses? I always wanted to ride a horse.

-Then you’re in the right place.

-Yeah……… I think I truly am. 

-You’re welcome to stay as long as you want.

-Well, Mr Green, what if that’s a very long time?

-I don’t think I’d mind that at all.

-You never know, Mr Green, sometimes

 things just work out, know what I mean?

She tilts her head at Ruthie and Henry slumped

together on the pew and already half asleep.

-Yes they do. Can I get you a cup of coffee?

-Please. You got anything to stiffen it up?

-I might have a jug somewhere. Let’s put these kids

 into bed. Think you could sleep in a hammock?

-I could sleep in a corn crib. I don’t think that’s

 gonna be a problem. But d’you mind if I wait

 a bit on riding those horses? Ruthie and him

 kinda itchy for Frisco, but maybe I could stick

 around here for a while?

-Long as you want, Loretta. This day

 and as many others as you like. 

-Yeah? I’m liking this day a lot.

-Me too. Let’s put these two to bed and I’ll show you

 my bench. I think the seat will fit you just about right.

 -Yeah? Show me the way, Mr Green, let’s find out.

the snakes get shed out by the shed (40)

-where?

-down at the end of the street.

 sittin’ in that motherfucker’s truck

-language!

- sorry, Leona. ain’t no nicer word for ‘em.

Henry says

-go out the back and hide behind

 that tool shed. Me and Mr Brown’ll

 watch out for them, then follow you.

the women slip out the back door,

Henry and Reggie peek through

the front window. can’t tell if Smith

and Bobby are still in the truck.

-you got anything heavy, like a pick ax

 or a hammer, some kind of handle?

-they’s a pick ax in the shed.

-good. when we get out there, get that.

 then we need to slip away. can’t risk

 starting up the car,  they’d be on us

 before we could get going.

-you’re right, gotta be careful.

-any neighbors where we could get in quietly?

-i don’t know. they won’t be expecting any

 visitors this time of night. if they wake up

 gonna be pretty hard to keep it quiet.

out by the shed, a man’s loud voice:

-Ruthie! I didn’t know they was in

 the hut! the babies. it was dark

 I didn’t know, they was babies.

 I didn’t know, I didn’t know.

Reggie says, That’s Junior! He must

be prowling around like he does.

-Oh shit! They’re going to know the

 women are out there. C’mon!

Henry and Reggie run out to the shed.

Ruthie tries to calm Junior.

-I know Junior. It’s alright. You didn’t know.

 It’s alright. We gotta be quiet now you hear? 

-Why we gotta be quiet? The hut was quiet.

 But they was in there. And the fire.

 I heard them screaming.

-I know, I know. Please. we gotta be

 quiet now. There’s some bad men here.

-Where? I won’t let them hurt you. I won’t.

-shhh. Junior, please.

Smith and Bobby come around each

side of the house towards the shed.

-Well well, ain’t this sweet, got the whole

 family out for some night air. But we all

 wanna be good neighbors now, don’ want

 to disturb the peace. Why’nt we take

 this party inside?

A dog begins to bark, then two more join in.

-too late for that, Smith,

 the peace is already disturbed.

- so it is, Bandyman. so it is.

  Not as disturbed as you gonna be.

  All of you get back inside. We gonna have

  a little party. ‘cept for you Bandyman.

  But I’m gonna let you watch.

Junior grabs a shovel, brandishes it at Smith.

-You stay back. you just get out of here.

Bobby snickers. -Or what Junior? You get

any closer and we’ll use that shovel to dig

your grave.

Junior raises the shovel over his head, takes

a step towards Bobby. Smith shoots Junior

in the chest.

No one has noticed that Loretta had slipped

away, now she runs up behind Smith with a

heavy iron skillet and cracks his egg.

He sees a whole new galaxy and the tweeting

of a thousand neon birds as he falls down,

twitchs briefly then goes still. His noodles spill

through his cracked skull onto the ground.

The dogs are in full chorus now and lights are

coming on. Neighbors awakened by the gunshot

come out of their shacks.

-What’s going on over there? You alright?

-Reggie! What’s goin’ on man?

Loretta stands over Gus, the skillet dangling

from her hand. kicks him in the groin,

but he doesn’t move.

Bobby backs up, straight razor in his hand.

-Stay away from me. I’ll cut you.

Loretta turns toward him, takes a step.

-Listen here, you bastard. I’m goin’a brain you

 too fore I take that razor and cut off your balls.

Ruthie and Leona are kneeling over Junior who

is breathing shallowly and struggling to speak.

-I didn’t know they was in the hut.

 oh god, they was just babies. I didn’t.....

-It’s alright Junior, Jesus knows you didn’t know. 

 It’s gonna be alright baby. You just lie quiet now.

 You’ll be alright.

Junior looks up at Ruthie, smiles

- I’m sorry Ruthie, I’m sorry......

The starlight reflected in his eyes freezes,

and his last breaths fade away.

Reggie and Henry hold Loretta back

from getting any closer to Bobby,

but she’s in spitting distance and

takes full advantage of that.

Barney, the off duty deputy from Tulare,

wearing just his uniform trousers and

undershirt comes running up with his

service revolver and a flashlight.

-What’s going on here? Who are these men?

Reggie says, they came up here from

Bakersfield. They was set on taking my daughter here.

 This one had a gun.

Barney shines the flashlight on Gus.

-He’s been shot?

-No, he shot Junior. Over there.

I think  Junior’s dead.

Barney leans down and checks Smith’s pulse.

-So’s this one. What happened to him?

 Looks like he got clobbered in the head.

 Who done that?

He looks around and sees Loretta still clutching

the heavy skillet. And Bobby backed up against

the wall of the shack.

-She did it?

-Yeah. ‘fore he could shoot somebody else.

-Right. Looks to me like a clear case of self defense.

He takes another look at Loretta, in her clinging

green satin dress and Bobby in his sharp suit.

-These two connected, ain’t they?

-Yes sir, he’s a pimp. He was gonna hurt her because

 she helped Ruthie get away from him before he could

 sell her to this piece of trash.

-That ain’t going to look so good, even though she did

 the right thing here. She’s obviously a working girl.

 Be a lot of explaining. Even for doing a shitheel like

 this one here.

-Because he’s white?

-You know that as well as I do. So here’s what happened.

 This one came up here for reasons unknown and surprised

 Junior. Shot him. And before he collapsed, Junior knocked

 him over the head with that skillet. Or the other way around,

 nobody seen anything right?

Bobby says, I did. I saw this bitch conk him.

-I doubt you want to get too involved in this, pal. Be a lot of

 questions about what you were doing here. So I think you best

 keep your trap shut while we figure out what to do about you.

-well if I go down, I’m taking her with me.

-You can make plenty of trouble for her, I’m sure. So maybe

 we’ll just get you out of the picture all together. You were

 never here. Or her. How’s that sound?

-I can live with that.

-What about the rest of you all? We let this scum crawl away

 and keep the lady out of it? The only ones involved are the dead?

Reggie says, I don’t like it. He the one who was trying to sell

my daughter. Why should he get off the hook?

-Well that would be justice. What do you think young lady?

-He’s a skunk for sure. But I don’t want Loretta to get in trouble.

-You’d have to make a statement too. How’d you get here, anyway?

-Henry brought Loretta and me up here. We knew Bobby and Smith

 were coming and they might hurt Mama and Daddy.

Barney turns to Henry, What is your involvement in all this?

-It’s a long story, both of these men were after Ruthie and I was

 trying to protect them.

-You’re a friend of hers?

-Yes sir.

-A real special friend, right? Makes this whole mess a lot more

 complicated. I think maybe it would be a real good idea for

 the three of you to make yourself scarce for awhile.

-What about Bobby?

-Oh I think he’s gonna keep his mouth shut. How’d they get here?

-In Smith’s pickup.

-That’ll have to stay. I think we’ll send Bobby here back

 down to Bakersfield on the bus from Earlimart.

Leona says, What about you, Barney? What are you gonna say

about why you down here in Teviston?

-Well. The cat was going ta get out of the bag pretty soon anyway.

 Me and Gayle are fixin’ to get married. No law against it anymore.

-Hoo boy! That’s a pretty big cat!

-I know. But that’s what we’re gonna do. We’ll live up at my place

 outside of Tulare. I have a little spread there so it won’t be nobody’s

 business. They can talk behind my back all they want.

Gayle steps forward and stands close to Barney.

-That’s right. We want to be right in the eyes of God.

 they the only ones that matter.

Henry says, So what’s next?

-You and Ruthie and Loretta need to get out of here so I can call

  this in. The rest of you will need to make some kind of statement.

  Like you didn’t see anything just heard the shot.

 We’ll lock this other piece of crap in somebody’s shed til we get

 this scene cleared, then I’ll take him down to Earlimart to catch

 the bus. And you ain’t never coming back here are you? Cuz if you

 do, it won’t be the law you need to worry about, you understand?

-Yeah, I hear ya. Shit.

-Alright, then. Let’s get this mess cleaned up.

Leona throws her arms around Ruthie.

-You be careful darlin’. You gotta come back here soon as it’s safe.

-I will, Mama.

She hesitates a moment, then hugs Henry close.

-You take care of my little girl. I’m gonna pray for you everyday.

-I’ll do my best.

Reggie and Henry shake hands.

-That goes for me too son. You already seen how much trouble

 you’re facing. The world ain’t ready for you and Ruthie. I don’t like it,

 but nothin’ I can do about it. I see the two of you are set on it.

-Thank you, sir. I know it isn’t going to be easy.

They all embrace one more time, then Henry and Ruthie join

Loretta and go over to the car.

-Where we going to go Henry?

-I think we’re gonna go see Mr Green about riding some horses.

 Then we’ll go up to Fresno so you can meet my folks.

 How’s that sound?

-That sounds wonderful. Especially the horses.

Loretta says, Who’s this Mr Green?

I ain’t gettin on no damn horse.

meet the parents (39)

soft snoring in the dark

the lingering scent of this night’s

pig’s knuckle stew and Daddy’s boots.

-Mama…Daddy…. Mama

 It’s me. Ruthie.

Bedclothes stirring, the snoring continues.

She steps further into the room.

-Mama….

-Ruthie? Is that you? What are you

 doing here? What’s wrong?

She pokes her husband.

-Reggie, wake up. Ruthie’s here.

-What? Ruthie? What you doin’ here?

-It’s me, Daddy. You need to get up,

 troubles on the way.

-Hold on child, let me get the light.

One 60 watt bulb hangs from the ceiling.

Reggie blinks in the unshaded glare,

Leona rolls out of the iron-framed bed.

rushes over to Ruthie and folds her 

into a mother’s loving hug.

Reggie now composed, says

-What’s this trouble?

-Some real bad men are on their way,

 could be here any minute.

-What bad men, what’s going on, baby?

-Bobby. And a roughneck from Oildale.

 a white man. He’s worse’n Bobby.

-Well that Bobby never been no good.

 I knew he’d be the cause of something

 bad sooner or later.

-Yeah, I know. You warned me when I

 moved in with Loretta. Right now we

 don’t have time to discuss it.

 Loretta’s here. He means her harm too.

-What’s this all about? Who’s this white man?

-Bobby wants to turn me out. Sell me

 to that roughneck.

-Oh no he ain’t! I’ll straighten that man out......

-Daddy, they aren’t foolin’ around. Bobby’s

 bad news for sure, but the two of them together...

-We’ll see ‘bout that.

-Daddy, I think they have guns.

-Well what you want to do?

-There’s another man, a good man. He’s

 the one who drove us up here. And he’s,

 he’s...I…I wanted you to...

-you involved with him, baby?

-yes, Mama.

-I can tell. What about Junior? We been praying

 real hard for him. You got to trust the Lord.

-I know, Mama, I’ve tried. But you know he

 ain’t getting any better. I don’t think he ever will.

 Maybe that’s what the Lord has in mind for him.

 Maybe that’s His plan.

-You can’t know that Ruthie, only He knows

 what his plan is.

-I know Mama, but I don’t think that I’m gonna

 be part of it. 

Leona sighs, shakes her head,

-Oh, Ruthie, who is this man?

-His name is Henry. He protected me from that

 roughneck. The one who’s comin’ with Bobby.

Reggie says, He must be a righteous man.

-He is, Daddy. Decent and brave.

-What does he do?

-He works up at the oilfields. He’s the payroll clerk.

-The payroll clerk? How’d he get that job?

-He’s real smart.

-Decent, brave an’ smart. And must be livin’

 a charmed life if he got hired up at the oilfields.

 Well ain’t you going to bring him in?

-Yes. I’ll go fetch him and Loretta. You better

 get some clothes on. We’re gonna have to be

 prepared for those two devils or get out of here.

On this moonless night, the only light,

is the bright river of the Milky Way.

the hulks of crude shacks,

crouch low and black against the stars.

The flathead motor’s cooling ticks,

the songs of crickets , the crunch

of her oxfords on the sandy yard

the only sounds of the late hour.

-I told them you were here.

-Is everything ok?

-They’re worried.

-of course they are.

-they want to meet you.

-okay. let’s go in.

-well I didn’t tell them everything.

-About me?

-yeah, they’re gonna find out now.

-you didn’t tell them I was white?

-Was? Looks to me you still are.

-yeah. maybe a little darker after all that sun today.

-yeah, well. I just told them that you’re a good man.

-and?

-they want to meet you.

-I’m ready. Are you?

-Yes.

-Ruthie?

-What?

-I love you.

-Get out of the damn car, boy.

She jumps up on him, clings for a moment,

then drops back to her feet.

-okay, baby, lets go in.

 Loretta says, I’m gonna stay out here.

Hate to miss the introduction, but somebody

 needs to watch out for the shitheads.

-Good idea.

Ruthie goes in first, pulls in Henry by the hand.

-Daddy, Mama, this is Henry Nalbandian.

These are my parents, Reggie and Leona Brown.

Silent stares. Leona’s chair scrapes on the floor.

-Pleased to meet you, ma’am.

-Mr Henry.

-Please, it’s just Henry.

-Daddy?

-Oh. sorry. Pleased to meet you Mr Henry.

 Thank you for what you did for my girl.

Ruthie tugs Henry over to the threadbare sofa

where Reggie is sitting, sits him down. Eases

herself down between the two men.

Leona recovers her hospitality and offers,

-Can I get you something to drink?

 Some cherry cider? ‘fraid that’s all we got

 ‘cept some still water.

-Take the cider. I’ll have a glass too Mama, please.

Leona goes to a heavy cupboard, takes out a jug.

-I’m afraid it ain’t real cool.

-I’m sure that it’ll be just fine, thank you, ma’am.

 Reggie clears his throat,

-Ruthie says you protected her from a bad man.

-Yes sir. He’s a nasty old boy, done time for hurting a girl up in Fresno.

-Mmm. I think I know the type. So he was tryin’ to harm my girl?

-Yes sir, he was. I believe he still intends to if he gets the chance.

-And nobody going to stick up for her ‘cept you?

-I don’t who else is a position to.

-No help from the police?

 Ruthie looks at Reggie.

-What do you think Daddy?

-No, I guess you right. Police don’t care about some little colored girl.

 So what are you fixin’ to do?

-They’re on their way here. Probably armed. Smith has a gun.

 I don’t know about Bobby.

-He never was no good. Thinks he’s the sharp cat. You know what I’m sayin’?

-Yes sir, I do.

-Ruthie, you say he tryin’ to pimp you to that roughneck?

-Yeah, Mama, He figures since I’m staying with Loretta I owe him.

 And there’s only one way he’s got in mind to pay up.

-Only thing he ever had in mind. I never did like that boy. Way too slick

 and full of hisself. What about Loretta? She know about all this?

-’Course she does. That’s why she’s here. She helped me get away

 from Bakersfield before Bobby could sell me to that man.

-Well bless her for that. But how did you and Mr Henry meet?

-the night the earthquake hit, he was at the hospital before the quake.

 in the ER. and that animal tried to molest me. right there in the ER.

 None of those roughnecks and cowhands said a word. then Henry

 backed him off and took me out of there...

-god bless you, Mr Henry-

-that wasn’t the end of it Mama, when the quake hit everybody ran

 out of the building it was crazy panic like and felt like the whole

 world was falling apart……..so I was running out in the street and

 that Smith was running up behind me with a pipe. and Henry

 stopped him again and took me home.

-I don’t know how to thank you enough, Mr Henry. for saving my girl.

-I’m just glad that I could, Mr Brown. 

Leona leans back on her chair: Ruthie’s lookin’ at that Henry like he’s

pure sugar and she’s got a sweet tooth and he’s got wings sproutin’

outa his back wrappin’ round her.  And Henry. he ain’t taken his eyes

off her. got eyes like that puppy Ruthie once had. kind of a scarecrow

idn’t he, mess of hair, boy needs a comb, oh lord help ‘em, they in love.

-What are your plans, Mr Henry?

-I think we should leave the house.

-’course, yes. I meant after that?

-Me and Ruthie want to be together.

-You know how much pain and trouble you’re gonna have?

-Yes, Ma’am I do. We’re already in it. Right here. right now.

Loretta opens the door.

-They’re here.