Brown is the way
The barn smells
Brown
As the hay dry in the mow
The shit wet in the stalls
The sweaty quarter horse
The badly chewed feed box
Molasses soaked cow feed
Barn boards
And oats
It’s the color of daddy
The not really farmers tan
The milky coffee
The chaff on his back
His boots
And books
It’s the color
Of footprints
Boot prints
In from the garden
The smooth worn leather
Of travler’s saddle
The deep loving color
Of a jersey’s eyes
It tastes
Like Steece’s popcycles
Carrots rinsed not quite clean
An sweat dried crusty
On a top lip
Brown is the color
Of laughter
And sunshine
Memories and madness
And of a childhood
The will never quite fit