There was no Town

There was no Town

There was no town, only houses and farms

the spread of Nancarrows, Telfers and Coads.

most at the end of unmade corrugated roads

where white dust held in twilight air: still, warm-

a suspension after the close closed calm

of silence, home schooling, Scripture and the code

for Sunday and the elemental load

and cycle of work and worship taught the harm

in dirge, drink and dalliance of any kind

Satan more palpable in sewing room or shed

who stole in children’s dreams with dread across

but in the late morning or soft gold mine

of afternoon it was, I know instead

a mile from anywhere so easy to get lost.