Eldon Dykes’ father
arrived on Sunday
nonstop Greyhound bus
from Oklahoma for a visit

Next morning after breakfast
Eldon told him, Old man
I’m taking you to Bakersfield
to buy some decent shoes

John Dykes felt whipped
and answered
with his soul slumped down
Son
these shoes ain’t that bad
all they need is laces

Reprinted Nov. 1, 2013 in This Land, Vol. 4 Issue 22, with permission of the literary estate of Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel, copyright Back40 Publishing/Stone Woman Press, Joshua Tree, California.