Gas, Beer, and Chicken

The neon sign

had a few lightbulbs missing

and it reminded me

of the old swinging metal sign

in front of a gas station

in south Alabama

on US Highway 231

that said, “Diesel and Seafood”

and I always imagined

that I wouldn’t like

diesel with my seafood.

And even though I prefer

seafood to chicken

and I don’t drink gas or diesel

or beer anymore

the age of the sign

makes me happy

to know this little town

I’m in hasn’t been dry

since from about the time

I was born,

these are my kind of people,

even if the pumps

have been taken out

And there’s a Tesla

charging station

where they used to be.