Delaware bleeds into Maryland bleeds
into Virginia into West Virginia into Virginia
again. These nauseating hills. This endless

highway, mountained on both sides.
If something were to go wrong. If I were
to bleed. If I were to need a doctor.

These pregnant hilltops, straining against
the punishing pink sky. Clouds spooling
and unspooling. How anyone can mistake

this country for beautiful. If I couldn’t
reach a doctor in time. If there
were no doctor. If no doctor would see me.

How shadows blue the mountains
at sunset. How fireflies dot the grass.