Early shift

My olfactory bulb picks up
an unseen fact
- the coffee pot has boiled.

I reach for the radio's
on/off control
- hear morning blues
with Muddy Waters.

There's breaking news -

Old Red is trailing the convict
broke out from our local jail
- he strains on his leash
and drags the boys along.

I grip the remote.
TV is there.

Now mark this fact
that canine snuffler does not sniff the mist
for sweat or snot on scrap of rag
- with a runaway slave you'd have seen it so.

This tracker's nose
seeks other signatures
- blades and beetles crushed underfoot.

And where that trail doth lead
this half-blind hound will go
until the sheriff yells 'Stop or I shoot!'
and draws his bead
- that scene in the films
at least was true.

I rise from the bunk
and reach for the star.

The Hoochie Coochie Man is here.
_____
gw2011