LACTOSE TOLERANT                                 (Memories of Pennsylvania)

Cows walking on the hill
in the distance
creatures of habit
moving toward the barn
Stop and no doubt
chew and wait
chew and wait
in the shade and wind
carrying some moody laments
While I ruminate
on the whole process of milk
All the way from grass
to before dawn squirting into cans
and perfect aim
To winding down the road
in every direction
in shiny trucks
To standing tall and chilled
in the dairy aisles of the world
To dunking cookies
while hypnotized by clever Saturday cartoons
while cold white overflow
is slowly dripping down chins
To happy children in our midst
To the very meaning of mammals.
4.23.19
Renton, Washington