A Sociologist’s Field Study

Aunt Laura’s Place

                        How big is Murdo?

                           Well…it’s

                                    about two rooms and a bath across

                                    wall-to-wall carpet, chicken and dumplings

                                    on Saturday night;

                                    about a little bit of a spring day drive

                                    from Rosebud and the Sioux;

                                    about ten years out of teaching

                                    and ten years into stockpiling hotels,

                                    motels and sleeping rooms;

                                    about twelve dollars for the night;

                                    about a little more if you use the single bed

                                    in the tiny front room;

                                   

                                    about that nice Oregon girl coming for the summer

                                    who’s a lot of fun;

                                    about selling roasting ears and saving

                                    for a hair-cut in depression years,

                                    and not moving much beyond Draper, White River

                                    or Wall;

                                                                        and, well…

                        How big is Murdo, Aunt Laura?

                        It’s bigger in summer and colder in fall

                                    and that’s all we know.

                                                                                    C. S. Cholas

                                                                                    Passing through Murdo, South Dakota

                                                                                    Spring of 1975, Sociology Field Study