Sunflowers

a sweating summer day
and an unshaven boy
together in a cranky pickup truck
jolt down a gravel road

overalls and ball caps
nearly hidden
behind sunflowers
wave callused hands.

cigarette smoke blows out
the window

limestone dust and pebbles
spit out in a sagging hiss
from beneath bald tires

a rattle down the road
with a big-boned dog
that barks at everything
and nothing

vanishes behind a tall corn crop

afternoon sulks on
and somewhere a hawk screams.

a small orchard sighs

peach-laden branches
dangle like broken arms.

bereft leaves on an elm tree stir

sunflowers –
great wide heads lower.

by Diann Hays