Arkansas car ride

summer in spring

and the roller coaster ride

of Plum Hollow road

cardinals brightening the day

like stoplights

and we go on

through the gates and out

into lush nowhere Arkansas

50 mph zigzagging hills

narrow bridges and escapes

everything American big:

trees houses cars

scattered diners

houses on wheels

and construction work

people are moving here

to the big nothing

consisting of trees and wildlife

now called vacant lots

and soon turned into property

with an ever-rising price-tag