Sheila

her name was Sheila,

a long tall string bean
of a girl.

sea green eyes, brown hair down
to her shoulders.

we went to the same community
college.

the best six years of my life.

we used to make love on a hill
overlooking
rosecroft raceway.

the field lit up.
the stands full of gamblers,
drenched in whiskey,

a cloud of cigarette smoke
hovering grey
over mud,

yelling at
the harnessed horses

as they bent towards the finish
line.

that was part of it.
the excitement of the crowd,
the rumble of hooves,

the call being made.

it wasn't love exactly, but we
liked each other as young people do.

and that was enough
to get us around the bend
towards home.