Truly Red's Dog

Don Taylor


We're hard on US 40
out of Tucumcari headed west.
I see a dog running
in the ditches, nosing
for the graves of Coronado's men.

I fell in an hour ago
with a truly-red gal
and her grave-hunting dog,
at Love's drinking coffee --
cash strapped
we fell in to use
each other's thumbs.

Tonight? on my way to Phoenix
I was just looking
for a place under a bridge,
or a Western Singing star
in a bus with running water;
a Texan in a Caddy
with a long-legged daughter
half-bloused out sleeping
in the back.

Now, Truly Red and her dog
puts me on a new trail.
Hey, JACK! .... give us a ride!

Coronado's Seven Cities?
That'd be Las Vegas.
"Truly Red,
I'll deal poker,
you dance on laps--
the dog'll bring us gold
from the graves."

Don Taylor