Gonna lay away my fishin’ pole today. Life’s a dream and death an awakenin’, they say.

Well she’s gone and it’s too hot and I’m awake, alone here in these mosquitoes and weeds. This’s a quiet spot, but quiet don’t meet my needs.

Gonna lay away my fishin’ pole today.

Christian Linville is a native Oklahoman living in the western desert. His other work has appeared in Corium Magazine.