process note: This poem came from an exercise developed by prize-winning poet Oliver De La Paz. The Rube Goldberg challenges invites us to include

- a stick of dynamite,
- a childhood secret,
- a lyric from a song when we were younger
- an odor associated with a season,
- the number 6,
- the color magenta, and
- something metallic.

--

the smell of blood reminded us of hunting season
when fall would flare magenta and burnt sienna
once, i put the muzzle of the rifle into my mouth
because i thought you should always know both
ends of the story. my father took six shots,
muttering i know you're out there somewhere,
eyes burning like lit dynamite. we trampled through
the underbrush, preparing ourselves for the glassy-
eyed stare.