No Flies Nets

We three sat squished
in backseat of the car,
a black '52 Olds,
and craned our necks as
the cars would pass by
when his head was fully
stuck out.
We'd laugh as they honked
at the unusual sight
that he was.

Orders came from the Navy
time to leave Tennessee
and fly to new state of Alaska.
I came home from school
my Muggsy was gone,
they said he left
to live on a farm.
Even at nine
I knew it a lie.

Still today I can't pass
a trailer en route
with a horse whose head's
out the window
without thinking of watching
for miles on end
that head
of my childhood
friend.