Highwayman (for Richard Glassman 12/10/09)
“Every night and every morn
Some to misery are born
Every morn and every night
Some are born to sweet delight
Some are born to sweet delight
Some are born to endless night
We are led to believe a lie
When we see not thro the eye”
-William Blake
the weather god rails
iced roads scraped
rooster tail flies
truck armor protect us
move us safely
get us home free
worker, father, leader,
farmer, foreman
among the machinery technicians
of how societies must manage motion
survive the massive weight of bodies
rolling loads, speeding traffic
heavy pounding of our Earth’s face
asphalt, concrete skin
evolved pathways, bridges
structures of stone and steel
markets, parts, and products
of the human burden
pushed and pulled
along the lifelines of want and need
guided by the laws or outlaws
of commerce and capital
stretching across the peopled plains
we build, fix, repair, maintain
attempt to lessen the pain
of gravity’s grasp
friend, brother, fellow road warrior
we move this soil
one last time
one last time
in thankfulness
for the time you spent with us
before your heavenly rest