Before I Was Hungry

by Walter Lane, Raccoon, KY

Before I was poor
the fish from the creek
were supper
the water from our well,
spring and creek were
clear in a drinking glass.
 
Before I was poor
there were no air filters
on our furnace,
you couldnt see the
air in the road in front
of our house.
 
Before I was poor,
I was never hungry
for the past
    
The time
before the bulldozers
stripped away the natural
rights of
fishermen,
farmers.