on the recommendation of a friend

I travelled to Iowa.

a lonely place.

nowhere to go.

almost a complete

straightaway.

I travelled to Iowa.

a dusty place.

low-lying structures with

rusty corrugated tops.

the vehicle out front

was smeared in dust.

the dust of dead wranglers,

dead drovers, and dead lasso artists

although they say some are living.

I introduced "Eclipse Coffee Syrup"

to the counterman

who took a swig from the bottle then shot me dead.