From the outside that trailer doesn’t look too well-taken care of
grass needs mowing
no flowers, only a lonely yellow rosebush.

    I’m killing flies left and right   
I said once, when I’d come to visit
    That’s the price you pay for fresh air around here
the kids smile.

Inside it’s cozier
in the girls’ bedroom
pictures of friends hang on the walls
stuffed animals nestle on beds
books pack the shelves
make up and jewelry cover the dresser.

Their brother shares a bedroom with their dad
a boy’s room it is with football trophies
ribbons hang on the wall
a cassette player and tapes are all over the floor
a man’s room it is
Playboy magazines hidden under the nightstand
Field and Stream next to ashtrays with cigarette butts
and a poster girl’s taped behind the door.

There’s olive wall-to-wall carpeting
one and a half baths
and a dishwasher
    that doesn’t work
a black-and-white TV sits on top a turntable    
    that doesn’t work
that sits on top of a large console TV
    that doesn’t work.

The picture’s not too good on that old black and white
it would be better if they had cable
but that would take a whole lot more money
than their dad ever had.