It’s the one the dealership gave us on the test drive of the van. Mom plays it over and over again. Dad listens to KRTN Raton when they’re together, mom to this damn tape when she’s alone or with me. And always Louis Armstrong’s syrupy world as the first song. If anyone finds out I see skies of blue, red roses too, I see them bloom, for me and you…and I think to myself…the only baby crying is me and I’ll stick to my G.I. Joes.

Brian Dickson teaches at the Community College of Denver and serves as an editor for New Feathers Anthology. Past publications include two chapbooks, In a Heart’s Rut (HighFive press), Maybe This Is How Tides Work (Finishing Line Press), and one book, All Points Radiant (WordTech, Cherry Grove Editions) and various journals, most recently Progenitor.