U.S. Highway 61

Starting in New Orleans, ending in Wyoming, Minnesota,

The highway knows much history.

Even before it was two-laned here and there,

It knew wilderness, share-cropping, vast expanse

Of cotton field, soybean field, sugar cane field,

Knew the rolling hills,

Knew the bridges, wooded areas,

Knew the boredom and domestic violence pervading

The houses of various denominations,

Of various social strata, various stages of delipadation,

Knew the many churches facing the road,

As if the highway was a stand-in for God.

--October 28, 2013