TAXI.com

Needle in a HaystackRonnie dropped what he was doin', in the shadows of that barncos that ol' barkin' collie, was their only smoke alarmwhen he reached their cabin, smoke was pourin' from the stovefor the second time that week, Mom burned the turkey loafshe was planted by the Zenith, clutching her remote controlwatching some videotape, of the '99 Sugar Bowlhe saw dark cigaratte burns, dotting her sagging chairand a bent up bobbie pin, hiding somewhere inher hen's nest of hairwas a needle in a haystacka needle in a haystackRonnie watched the game beside her, like a thousand times beforeand she only seemed to breathe, when his brother scoredhe was the only hope they'd had, to make a new start someplace elsenow they were trapped like dead moths, in those trophies on the shelfhe was comin' back for Christmas, that mountain road was wethis hubcab had just stopped spinnin', when they found his new Corvettenow she stubbed out her Pall-Mall, lit one more and hit "rewind"and Ronnie had no doubt, searchin' for some way outwas like tryin' to finda needle in a haystack something slender and sharpa slim chance to make a narrow escape in the darka needle in a haystackrather than reaching out to, the son she might still saveshe dug up hollow glories, and filled another gravethat dog snapped her from her haze, in the harsh morning lightshe found Ronnie in that barn, rubber hose around his armslumped over cold besidea needle in a haystack something slender and sharpa slim chance to make a narrow escape in the darka needle in a haystack(c)2006 Robert George