digging a hole to china

your father had all
the answers, such as what would
happen if you kept
digging a hole
in the ground without stopping.
you'd reach china he'd say.
smiling from his lawn chair
in the back yard,
sunning himself, a glass
of ice tea at his side,
talking to our neighbor,
Edwina, about her garden.
her in her red shorts and
white blouse.
he seemed very interested
in her garden.
laughing and talking it up
with her about asparagus,
and lettuce,
tomatoes. it almost
seemed like he was
ignoring your questions,
your ambitious endeavor,
as you dug your hole,
towards china.