Road Ribbons to Forever (IP)

 

 

ROAD RIBBONS TO FOREVER

 

still cold the orb lay low

quick glimpse then hidden

motor climbing to drown

crow’s haunting early wake-up call

blades of light chop dust and dirt

wheels trundle  bodies bounce

over troughs and ridges

 

silent stands of hewn wood

strangled by checked metal string

strung as divided zones

of labour or fields of food

for slow-moving wool-balls

unaffected by those

who pass once in a changing

between ghost gums wind-dancing 

 

don’t press the soft start 

for raucous interruption

no technological intrusion

to spoil the quietness

of morning impressions

but watch silently

anticipating adventure

 

time seems to slumber

in camera shots

too fast moving past

before fully absorbed

an erect neck now tired

of turning back with regret

high sun and heat

decreasing

petrol gauge as low horizon

never nearer not revealing

road ribbons to forever

 

our slumberous gazes

glazed with scenes

of shadows lit

by white-moon shafts

squinting at the yellow

twin-tunnelled path

flexing muscles cramped

shivering with want

the first new glimpse

of home.

 

 

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2000

* Published in ‘Hidden Capacity ~ a poet’s journey’ Ireland 2003, MMB.