Gallup, New Mexico (1978)

I stopped at a gas station
just outside of Gallup, New Mexico
off highway 666, known as the Devil's Highway.
I filled the tank and walked
into the convenience store to pay with dollar bills.

I handed government issued green pieces of paper,
Identified with somber pictures of past presidents,
to the man behind the counter.
He opened the cash register drawer
to deposit the money
and to take out my change.

He started a friendly conversation
with me while handling the money.
He said, "You must be a teacher or you are going
to work at the Indian hospital."
I said, "Why do you say that?"
He answered, "Only uranium miners, teachers,
and medical people move to this town, and
you don't seem like a uranium miner to me."

He then reached out his hand
to give me the money I had coming back.
I shook my head, and
said "Harry, keep the change."
I then walked outside to my car, and headed off to town.

I soon got off the main highway,
then drove down the Gallup streets.
Route 66 going through town,
Aztec Avenue, Cerritos, and Linda Vista.
Looking for uranium miners.
Looking for people who were supposed to be
different than me.