September 1996

Is this freedom
Breakfast on the road
Some enclave of the 50's
               Waitresses in bobby sox
                   Ponytails
                       Buddy Holly
                          Nostalgia
The road endless ahead
Where we measure progress
By the size of the oil strip
                Middle of the road
                    By countless drips
                       Army of cars
                          People
Laboring in the sun
Setting into a rhythm
Picking them up and laying them down
                Brick
                   Block
                      Stone
                        Masonry
I think of her, of life
Planning the future
Analyze the past
                Dreams
                    Memories
                        But today
                          Anticipation
In August heat
A cool breeze
Locust sing
I feel I should be on some porch swing
In Kansas
Drinking Iced tea

Sometimes I want to cry
When the first leaves turn yellow
Because that's when it all happens
The fall
And yet it is the best season
I will die in the fall

I can't remember when I first felt
The sun
Warm on my skin turning it brown
Along with it's radioactive components
Probably die from it

To ever want more
A better piece of land
Grass that's greener
Another face, body
               Relationships
I could drive myself crazy
Wondering what it would be like
To be something else
               Farmer
                  Rancher
There is peace in submission
               Acceptance
                  Jesus
What do I have to offer my children
As life ebbs away
               The sky in my eyes
               Her in my arms
               Peace
               That's enough