What You Need to Survive Vernon, OK

Sheer luck. Dumb-as-a-hammer-

without-the-handle luck. Two-yolks-

in-the-egg luck. The fourth leaf on

the clover isn’t enough. Leave the rabbit’s

feet alone. Beginner’s luck. One

bounce of the Plinko chip into the bonus.

The universe’s casual lagniappe. Crossing-

the-platform-and-catching-the-other-train luck.

Even-better-when-late luck. Onion-ring-

in-the-fries luck. The penny’s street resumé.

Hard worn, back-country luck. The creek unrisen.

The anti-Lazarus creek. The-glint-against-

the-barrel luck. Luck to see the sniper asleep.

Oil-derricks-never-went-dry luck. All-sevens-

and-a-pineapple luck. Good fortune to defy the odds

of hypertension or hair loss. Arm of the lucky cat

scratching the air forever. Unambitious Icarus Jones—

boy was lucky as a broken wishbone. Oh to match his lack

of fear, his letterman swagger [All State, Triple Jump Champ],

his young, gifted, and Black luck. A palm itching, money-on-

the-way luck. An ear burning, willing-to-fry-anyone-

who’s-talking-shit-around-the-way luck. An ace in the hole type.

A rueful magnanimity toward what is out of control.

An ease with being at ease while the state becomes the dust bowl.