visit ncicap.org] visit ncicap.org] garrison keillor: a native of michigan, bob hicok worked with cars and computers before becoming a teacher. he's the author of five books of poems, one of which, animal soul, was a finalist for the national book critics circle award. he says, "i can't separate what's serious "from what's funny. "i'd like the mix in my poems to reflect a range of emotions and ideas." this poem is called "calling him back from layoff." i called a man today. after he said hello and i said hello came a pause during which it would have been confusing to say hello again so i said how are you doing and guess what, he said fine and wondered aloud how i was and it turns out i'm ok. he was on the couch watching cars painted with ads for budweiser follow cars painted with ads for tide around an oval that's a metaphor for life because most of us run out of gas and settle for getting drunk in the stands and shouting at someone in a t-shirt we want kraut on our dog. i said he could have his job back and during the pause that followed his whiskers scrubbed the mouthpiece clean and