Diesel smoke

where I’m from

all the men have faces like pit bulls

personalities like chihuahuas

and puddles of frozen meat

from bathing in beef broth

and sweet baby rays barbecue sauce

pacing around

in factories and construction sites,

petroleum pumps,

and grocery checkout lines

beaten and

exhausted

from looking so tough all the time

while fighting off the child inside

mad

at rich people driving electric cars

with lithium motors

and

poor people in slow cars

with rusty exhausts and loud

motors that BANG

mad

at Mexicans that take American jobs

from American people

and

poor people that survive with nice things

but have no jobs

while they pound away

for 40 hours a week

hammers and mallets

in meaty palms sliced and splintered

stomachs full

of white bread on thin pink lunchmeat

heads full

of diesel smoke accessories and don’t tread on me decals

a

town full

of American men

mad