Friday, October 20, 2017

A LONG DRIVE TO A BEAUTIFUL PLACE






Along the road
small wonders.

Canadian geese saunter
across six lanes,
heads high.
No one honks.

A hawk
perched on a light post
above the freeway,
head turning back and forth.
Has he mistaken us for rabbits?

Carcasses
on the September highway:
tomatoes
spilling red.
A cat, raccoon, opossum,
two skunks, a deer,
red splatters of fur.
A splash of seagull feathers
against a fence.
Eco-batting,
torn open,
floating in the wind.
Strewn shirt, a pair of pants
in the gutter.
Who has lost their clothing?

Cornstalks
loaded in the open back
of a pick-up truck.
Husks waving in time
to Mumford & Sons
on the radio.

Bridges across the bay,
first one,
then another.

A long drive to a beautiful place.


11 comments:

  1. Such a beautiful and uplifting poem, Martha! Thank you!

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    Replies
    1. You are welcome, Teresa. I was inspired by a drive to Pt. Reyes

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  2. What a tease! Where did you go? Are you still there?

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    Replies
    1. One day trip to Pt. Reyes -- so much more to see that didn't get into the poem!

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    2. have you ever visited the studio of master print maker Tom Killion in Pt Reyes? It's been on my bucket list forever. Open studios on Thanksgiving weekend and Memorial Day weekend. I get lost in his landscape prints! Maybe this year!

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    3. He's one of my favorites, but I've never visited his studio. Good idea!

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  3. enjoy your beautiful place. Your post has en-courage-d me to drive the Falcon into town tonight for a house concert. Not a long drive, but surely a beautiful place.

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    Replies
    1. Teejay, I'm so glad you are driving to a house concert. Your turn to write about what you experience!

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    2. eager faces
      inspect the instruments
      traditional strings and
      steampunk pipes
      soon twirling notes
      lilting, jigging, marching
      sending us off
      on lifted feet
      tapping fingers
      shifting shoulders to the beat

      one heart so full of music
      it speaks volumes of love
      one face so stoic and bemused
      yet raises a laugh in a single beat
      two hands bowing and pressing
      stings that tie us all to Eire
      if just for an evening

      Two loving faces
      sharing home and hearth
      sending us off to a night filled
      with stars, hummed song,
      and visions of emerald 'hills of home'

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    3. Wow, sue (teejay), I love this piece. I'm so glad you posted it here so others could read it too. "Lilting, jigging, marching carries the beat of the music. Thank you.

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    4. thanks but I noticed a typo!: two hands bowing and pressing STRINGS. oops

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