The Zane Grey Secret

Papa called Rory several times
really loud "Go find that stray calf"
He could have been heard as far away
as Gypsy Corner
but Rory never answered
He couldn't be found
for a very good reason
He was down by the pond
in the mulberry grove
smoking long lengths of
dry grapevines
and reading Under the Tonto Rim

At suppertime his lips were
purplish blue
but I didn't tell on him
I wanted to read that book
after he finished
I was only eight and a half
but I could read as well as
he could at eleven
He borrowed books from
Mister Rowan
who had a complete collection
of Zane Grey novels
and loaned them to a few worthy readers

Notes

McDaniel, Wilma. (2001) Borrowed Coats. Hanging Loose Press, Brooklyn, New York.
Courtesy University of California, Merced Library. Copyright owned by the Regents of the University of California.