state highway 67
1.
The woman bends over
looking closely
at the dirt shoulder
of state highway 67.
She has a big branch
in one hand
and a music player
in the other.
2.
the woman looks closely
at the dirt shoulder.
today she has
a different branch
two hands holding
poised like a bayonet
over the dirt shoulder
of state highway 67.
3.
the woman is walking fast.
short and compact
jaunty walker, this one.
she's got those
three side black
sunglasses.
I can't see her face
in the rearview.
4.
the woman leans hard
into her bayonet
feet planted apart
short quick jabs
a pause to study
whatever it is
she's scratching
into the dirt shoulder.
5.
state highway 67
ribbons over the hills.
I can see her
a quarter mile ahead.
new branch.
she straightens
gets walking.
she's real old.
6.
no work today.
I pull over
start walking
along the dirt shoulder
reading bayonet scratches.
"John Ben"
"John Ben" "John Ben"
on state highway 67.
1.
The woman bends over
looking closely
at the dirt shoulder
of state highway 67.
She has a big branch
in one hand
and a music player
in the other.
2.
the woman looks closely
at the dirt shoulder.
today she has
a different branch
two hands holding
poised like a bayonet
over the dirt shoulder
of state highway 67.
3.
the woman is walking fast.
short and compact
jaunty walker, this one.
she's got those
three side black
sunglasses.
I can't see her face
in the rearview.
4.
the woman leans hard
into her bayonet
feet planted apart
short quick jabs
a pause to study
whatever it is
she's scratching
into the dirt shoulder.
5.
state highway 67
ribbons over the hills.
I can see her
a quarter mile ahead.
new branch.
she straightens
gets walking.
she's real old.
6.
no work today.
I pull over
start walking
along the dirt shoulder
reading bayonet scratches.
"John Ben"
"John Ben" "John Ben"
on state highway 67.
