Where the Little River Meets the Red

We drove Northeast on interstate 30
Towards home
Up from Dallas, through Tex-Arkana
You know the roads--
Like the back of our hands
We have
Long before there were maps to guide us
Long before we knew what our mouths were for
Long before we knew what we were
And just before Fulton where the little river meets
The Red you said, with a heavy breath:
I don’t want to die here
Get busted up for being queer
Do you?
I know who I am
We have
Long before there were maps to guide us
Long before we knew what our mouths were for
Long before we knew what we were
Unincorporated road
Red dirt on our shoes, kudzu grew
All around us
I kissed you and hoped no one saw
But the eyes of God, we’ve been told
Are always watching us