January 15, 2010

In the basements
of the Midwest
there are sewing
machines and ping
pong tables, hot water
heaters and over-stuffed
couches, boxes of
receipts and the good
wedding china. in
the basements of
the Midwest there
are globes and
Christmas decorations,
poker chips and fishing
rods, winter coats and
the grandchildren's toys.

In the basements
of the Midwest, there
are high windows
that look out on the
floor of the world.

Windows
that the Midwesterners
will peek out of if the
tornados come.

Tornados
that will leave only
Midwesterners, their
basements, and the secret
places where they are most human.