Billy Dale Hunt, Salesman

Billy Dale is mistaken for a terrorist

Outside of Baltimore

I stopped at a liquor store,

to use the telephone,

to see if my wife was home.

I inhaled the rainy spring,

chewed on the raw wind,

dialed my number

and counted the rings.

A bomb went off in the parking lot,

it threw me down, singed my hair,

and shattered the glass of the liquor store.

I saw a gutted van, burning green and gold,

spitting sparks; I thought I saw someone inside.

I stood in shock 'til the cops rolled up,

they took me in, I was the only witness.

I waited until the Feds arrived:

two men in shades, half my age.

They asked me about Desert Storm,

the Turks, the Kurds, chemical wars.

I told 'em I only know the road-

I told 'em I only sold

the Magipeeler, Forever Knives,

the Eternal Dicer, Miracle Slicer.

They said: "You're not a suspect.

Maybe we'll keep in touch."