Paul told lies.
He did so to keep the grass from growing.
The ball field was built over an old cemetery
whose displaced stones built the local gun club.
It was that grass Paul lied to.
The grass over the men who died with their boots on.
Those men carried guns and perpetrated deeds so bad
flowers refused grow on the their graves.
Popular lore placed cemeteries like this on a hill—
Boot Hill variations scattered about the west.
This cemetery was on the flat
not far from a clear river with trout and swallows.
Paul’s lies were not tall enough
to keep the grass from growing.
copyright © 2022 Kenneth P. Gurney
Umflop 