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By the Roadside

 Sharing with The Sunday Muse #260 with much appreciation to Carrie & Shay & everyone. Just a reminder: if you have a poetry book, please drop a title in the comments. My TBR won't thank you, but I will. :) 

 

I drive by the armadillos, dead where they fell.
Sunlight is so heavy it folds into damp shimmers.
All the roads are widening, dispersing the ditches,
Grinding out parking lots, killing slow steps.

I speed up; crisp winter in the passenger seat.
We will arrive at the store soon; I will drag her
Chill, into the store. Breathe for both of us.

Brightness distorts the lots, now grown gigantic.
Roads need blood, the state needs the kills.
We will make it through barriers if we wear them:
Dead armadillos, caliche dust, gunmetal sunshine.



Comments

  1. Carrie Van HornMay 20, 2023 at 7:38 AM

    It does feel as thought pavement is taking over the greenery and nature for sure. This is absolutely lovely Chrissa and deeply thought provoking. Thank you so much for being a core creator of the Muse itself and for all the amazing poetry you have shared here!

    ReplyDelete
  2. FireblossomMay 20, 2023 at 11:46 AM

    This is so bright it hurts my eyes as well it should. Thanks back to you, Chrissa, always a shining light at the Muse.

    ReplyDelete
  3. TruedessaMay 20, 2023 at 6:25 PM

    The sunlight seems blinding and climate is changing - winter in the passenger seat going for
    ride to who knows where?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sherry Blue SkyMay 21, 2023 at 9:20 AM

    Wonderfully written. I especially admire those closing lines.

    ReplyDelete
  5. HelenMay 21, 2023 at 11:45 AM

    This is all manner of amazing .. the third stanza stopped me in my (road)tracks.

    ReplyDelete
  6. qbitMay 21, 2023 at 11:55 AM

    That is fantastic. Taut, merciless. “Roads need blood, the state needs the kills.” Outstanding.

    ReplyDelete
  7. JimMay 21, 2023 at 9:37 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  8. JimMay 21, 2023 at 9:45 PM

    I like this Chrissa. My line is "Roads need blood, the state needs the kills" claimed because i don't know why, just right for asking "Why?" The buzzards will gather, the blood will be minimum, and the state had better count fast. I haven't seen an Armadillo for several years now, dead or live. The Mama and Babies used to cross our lawns for their outings. That was when we lived south of Houston, now we've been gone 23 years ( to Montgomery and recently Katy, other sides from Friendswood) that's without seeing even one, dead or alive.
    ..

    ReplyDelete

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