Kiehnau’s Service Station (since 1952) Fire – Spring 1996

[Editor’s Note: Caleb Whitney of Baileys Harbor recently placed second – out of over 350 poems from around the state – in the Wisconsin People & Ideas / Wisconsin Book Festival 2009 Poetry Contest with his poem, “Kiehnau’s Service Station (since 1952) Fire – Spring 1996.” His poem is printed herewith. To view the other contest winners and the current issue of Wisconsin People & Ideas visit http://www.wisconsinacademy.org/magazine/index.php?category_id=3552

Kristen (my to-be bride) Peil (daughter to Loren and Annie) called me at

work (a vacated dental office complete with circular carpet stain in the chair space).

“Can I get up on your roof (shingled in 1942 by Pat Tishler) to take pictures?”

“. . . ah, yeah. There’s a ladder behind the garage (the old cow shed from up on the hill).”

On the downhill side of the aquifer (solvent containment-wise)

State Highway 57 separates my house (Helen Zak’s place) from

Kiehnau’s (Prueter’s old garage).

(Then) Chief Gary Nelson (Gordy’s kid)

was “talking” the evening shift (watching for rekindle)

reclined in Brush Truck #19 (vintage 1976).

He said (when asked), I should stop by the hardware store (since 1955)

tomorrow with my driver’s license and be at the station (behind the Town Hall)

the next Monday (first of each month) at 7:00 pm.

There’d be some classes, too.