Produced by Dennis Camire

This week’s poem is by Leonore Hildebrandt of Harrington. It first appeared in “The Cumberland Review.” Her most recent book is “The Next Unknown,” published by Pecan Grove Press.

Statistics

By Leonore Hildebrandt

She found them on the tidal river not far from the house —

Winchester cartridge, duck and pheasant load,

And the extra-light Michelob, its metallic hues gauzed in mud.

In the yards scattered along her road, poverty is laid out

Casually — yesterday’s engines, a trailer’s soggy remains.

Odd goods and small cash travel hand to hand.

Census workers muddle through —

What is a residence, a garden shack, a bathroom?

(Her wooden throne, screened in, balances above a composting bin.)

She needn’t be afraid for lack of walls.

Hunters keep their eyes on dwindling flocks.

Black ducks drift in fog.

Dennis Camire can be reached at dcamire@cmcc.edu