ode to Ol' Roy
by Hezekiah Allen Taylor

which should be crooned
by Johnny Cash (all in black of course
and perched on the tailgate
of Sam Walton's old truck)

but instead
there's a greeter
even in Bentonville
asking us if we came
to the museum
because we work
at Wal-Mart

my girl replies
"No, but I am a frequent shopper"
which frightens me

almost as much
as the yellowed wedding gown
hidden in the back turn of the maze
of Walton's first 5 and 10

I stare silently for a long seconds
until she calls me back
to the stuffed animal
(a not-so-lifelike representation)
slid precariously half-in, half-out
of the metal dog box

"Ol' Roy died" she sighs
with no mention of Sam
no mention at all

Francine's Version -- Hezekiah's Version -- Inspiration
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