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for my siblings, very much on my mind........
FULL WISCONSIN
My ride, daily, is not lonely.
Four, five, six lanes going one way &
when I got behind another semi
I thought of my trucker brother, Mick.
When I merge ahead I can almost hear him say
“Ah, jeez. What did you do THAT for?”
his voice gone to Full Wisconsin
in exasperation.
When a red car zipped past us, a flash,
that was our sister. Like her namesake
she has a small, heavy foot. Flying
north of Chippewa, our Theresa May.
Mick & I share a shrug & then a wave
at a beat-up Chevy pickup.
DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS
bumper sticker & it’s older brother
Wild Bill up for a visit.
He was probably stopped in Illinois as they
check Texas plates for guns.
Most likely Bill doesn’t ride alone;
it’s a long way & if he doesn’t
necessarily mean trouble
he’s quick to offer it a ride.
Brake lights. Whoa.
We stop for god knows what
& spot a shiny Harley splitting lanes.
Brother Vern going to a Packers game,
leading with a joy earned & unencumbered
He leaves us behind, even the crowded
shop truck with a crew. Keith is driving,
likely, with the mechanics & hunters
hanging on to every word. I like to
think I’m a writer but he is the storyteller.
Ah, jeez, we’re moving again.
Lurching toward home.
I’ve been west long enough that I get asked
the same where-you-from as any
other idling Angeleno.
I just say “Somewhere else.”
I speed a little, cut lanes where I can
& sometimes talk to myself.
Brothers & sisters
of the freeway, shiny & unwashed,
uninsured & unlikely,
I forgive you
of your many trespasses,
so long
as you forgive me.
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