when pressure swells
caught prime tempera
paint in distemper
and the shopkeeper
spells stout disaster
with hikes in prices
past November ices
the commute ensues
and follows the news
down to Lolo, down
in the valley, among
rivers and herd bulls
and the whole livery
line waiting on novas
we'll keep driving out
we'll keep tuning out
the static and bruises
the commission moos
and mileages without
village reimbursement
while the town sinks
due to the mountain
lanes full of avalanche
and sheriff hounds
bully the trout fry
into submission like
wolves hungry for chum
and a fight against death
with the ranch hand gun
water table struck with wire
a vibrant wire of power line
a verdant hill of alkaline
whole country a quagmire
waiting for air to quit fire