When the Edge of Town Comes

in the flow of the bumper crop of traffic
heading in to celebrate the last warm Friday

before the weather turns bad. The jerk
with the windows rolled down behind me

and thumping the bass on his stereo
will never win a girl

while two small dogs next to the library
already start their next generation.

I try to guide my daughter’s eyes away.
Look, I tell her. Your new school

is only down the road. But she
isn’t listening to me.