by Liam McGann
A hay-filled crucifix stands over a cornfield
scaring away crows, scaring away souls
rustling leaves cover the sounds of screams
animal bones scattered across the road
ash is in the air like pollen, clogging up my nose
gray skies and lifeless eyes, floating through the wind
rustic churches filled with corpses begging that God will keep the dead
but they hide in dilapidated barns or rest in the trees
wandering through the night, dying to leave
we try so hard to keep them out
breathing in ghosts as I passed another midwestern graveyard
people try and run away, but their souls always come home to sleep
this drab place of endless fields and dying towns
yet I see gothic farmers smiling, as weird as it seems
three hours from humanity, but still at peace
because at the end of it all, we all end up back here
wandering through a midwestern graveyard, forgotten
please don’t hold your breath so you can breathe me in