The news
Filtered down
From Minneapolis
Across the lakes
To us working the docks
Along the oily Buffalo River
The message
The Superior Grain Elevator
Was closing within the next few weeks
The crew us
Would be out of work
While the millwrights would close the mill
The Peavey Company
Owner of the Superior Elevator
Cancelled inbound but not outbound grain shipments
Two weeks later
After all that could be stolen was
The super had our final checks for distribution
Before the distribution
Four young men veterans and felons
Set out to clean railroad tracks never to be used
Picks and shovels
Across their backs
They randomly stopped
For no apparent reason
They banged and clanged
And grunted on cue
Shirtless and ratproof
Our jeans tied tight
over our boot tops
we killed time
in the hot sun
until it was old
the vet and felon
stripped off their clothes
boots socks and hats remaining in place
they said goodbye to us
smiled and shook hands
wishing us luck knowing we wouldn’t strip
They strode majestically
Back up the track heads
Held high pirouetting
For the super
Lily white asses
Undulating
Brightly in summer
Light fine bone
China exquisitely absurd
I remember
Their smiles
They were perfect.