his winnings

you ask your father
what he will do with his winnings.
a hundred
thousand dollars
clear
from the scratch off lottery.
he says,
maybe i'll get the washing
machine fixed.
the belt is squeaking.
in a year
the winnings are gone.
the money slipped
back into the machine
that stands
by the door, by the newspapers,
as you enter
the grocery store.
the line is long and grey,
and bent
towards something that will
never be reached.