The Ride back up

7/10/25 on the road again


Choices

I heard my name.
“Dad, where you wanna eat?”
I said my usual, “I’ll eat anything.”
Chaz said, “How about that tree?”
I said, “I can bite the bark.”
They said, “Which is worse?”
I said, “I’ll never know, by choice.”
So we went to ______.
It was good.
Like Boris, Good Enough.




We just crossed the line.
County, that is.




Now they’re talking about health care.
I’ve got my jacket,
so I’m covered.




Sign on ambulance:
ProTransport.
I’m glad they’re not amateurs.




Solicitous Kristina said,
“Dad, are you bundled up?”
I thought that sounded funny
but I said, “Yes.”




Let’s call the whole thing off.

Lawdy, lawdy lawed.
You say ill eagle,
I say illegal.
Whatcha gonna do
when they come for YOU?




The corn is getting high
but still no elephant
or fritter cob or pone.
I remember years ago
standing near
above my little darling granddaughter
and I said, “That’ll do,”
and she said, “Pig,”
and we were instantly
comfortable together
bonded by knowing
the same thing
one of the best movies ever
and I got you,
Babe.




I’m not ready yet
for whatever it is
that I’m not ready for.




If and if only
met in a bar
You tell the rest
They’re both you




Slanted roofs
are almost always better



Nutty sign:
Hulling & Shelling.
They go together
like a horse and carriage
and the love of my life.




Stopping for gas
and to clean the windshield
because we wanna see
where we’re going
but we’re just
gonna look through it anyway
which reminds me
of the lazy servant
my friend had
who didn’t want
to wash the dishes
for the party
because
“they’re just gonna
eat off ’em
and they’ll be
dirty again.”




why do some
of the old songs
get it right
and now
so often
we’ve even
lost the melody




Cheer

Gimme an I
Eye!
Gimme a C
See!
Gimme a U
You!
ICU!
Eye Do.




I’ll keep writing
until I won’t.
I’ll keep doing
until I don’t.




Philosophers
don’t really know more
they’ve just
been at it longer
but that doesn’t mean they’re right
any more than me




there are more
solar panels
just not enough



cop car
flashing lights
other car pulled over
so that’s where they are
where they should be
doing what they should




I hear the radio news
being discussed
from the back seat
that’s how I know
what’s what




Paul McCartney
announces a new tour
I remember
years ago
when Callas and Di Stefano
did their last tour
cancelled half way
because they both realized
but McCartney
though older
is still going strong enough
Ah, the resilience
of former youth
yours mine ours




sound of a crack
like a rock against the windshield
not this time




I’m keeping my pen
out and ready
because you never know




I could just
close my eyes
but I’m awake




I sound like an oracle
whatever that looks like




Sometimes
I think
I’ll never
understand
anything
because
I’m smiling
and I haven’t
even
eaten
breakfast




Truck
on the access road
racing to get on
We won




And there
on the right
railroad tracks
for miles
empty




Passing through life
again and again
it changes
even more
than I do




Life
is worth the ride




another car
on the right
parallel
racing
to converge
like me
they don’t give up




Prime
Swoosh
A truckload more
I’ve seen
other trucks and
other signs
a truckload
of something else




Yay!
We’re getting off the road
I can
almost
smell food




Yes Yes
It’s the
Black Bear Diner
O frabjous day
Calloo callay
I chortle in my joy!




Wet blanket!
False alarm!
We’re stopping
at Auto Parts
for something needed
I know
we all love special tools
but they’re just not
food




I’m still hungry
more than ever
when was I ever not?




They left me in the car
my choice
I’m still writing
this very this
they locked the car
so I would feel
in control
of something anything
I’m almost pathetic
with my little needs
but I rise
to the power of the pen
hungrier than ever




Why so much concern
about food?
It’s not just me.
Nearly everybody
eats something
nearly every day.
I’m feeling
an accelerating
readiness
to join at the trough.




Oh please!
Can’t we stop for food?
Take pity on me!
I do.




This is where
the human body
takes over.
I’m almost afraid
of myself.
Oh, wait,
I have a little
wrapped hard candy
in my pocket
I filched
from an earlier
restaurant.
I’ll try
to tide me
over.




Mmm.
A kind of
sort of
peppermint.
The disparity
of means and ends.
It’ll at least
shut my mouth
for a little while.




They came out
of the Auto Parts store
apparently
got what we need
I’m so glad
I’m with them
Because
Otherwise
I couldn’t




Now there’s the air conditioner
because it’s hot out.
Where has it been
all this time?




Mmmm
and more Mmm
the candy helps
pretty good
it has a name
Choco Starlight
Chaz says,
“Left over from the Mexican restaurant?”
I confess,
“Yes.”




When Chaz and Kristina
came out of the
Auto Parts Store
they were shaking their heads
“These Good ‘ol Boys
sayin’
‘I’m tired of these fires.
They won’t let us
rake the forest.’ “
I shake my head too.




Passing car
passenger has
bare feet
on the dashboard
This is California




Talk in the front seat
about a Camry
with half a million miles
almost like a Volvo




I’m so tired
of what I’m tired of.
I’ll eat even more
when I get a chance.




Radio speaking Spanish
The front seat
knows more
than the back seat me




Now switching stations
going through the dial
looking for something anything
like maybe
real news
or real music




I’m learning to take
what we get




I can’t wait
or almost can‘t
to get there
so I can stop waiting
and eat real food
which is available
in so many places




Maybe I’ll just
try to sleep
to get through
this part
of life




I say again
Good luck on that



And now the river
or at least its bed
where there used to be
water
I say it again
California




Radio
More back and forth
yammer
endlessly
about immigration
and nobody seems
to know or do
more than talk




words words words
I have to believe
that when I taught school
at least I tried
for more




car cut in front
of Kristina driving
she honked
flipped the finger
she’s very eloquent
it was a Tesla
they pulled to the right
we passed
she showed again
the finger of shame
one by one
we teach the world




no wonder it’s
taking so long




now it’s getting
too cold
the air conditioner is
efficient
I’ll wrap myself
in my jacket
and give my pen
a rest




Or maybe not
Sign: Speed
Monitored
By aircraft
I don’t see that sign
often




Another sign:
Elder Creek

again
no water




I unwrapped myself
cold air be damned
I just can’t miss
writing down
what I would miss




can’t rely on my memory
to remember
because I don’t




“You alright, Dad?”
“Yup.”
I coughed because
I swallowed wrong
from the leftover mint




Now over the narrow canal
some water
that’s at least
something




Now the signs say
we’re getting closer
just not soon
or close
enough




Now over a river
We all said “Yay!”
All that water
reminds me
I gotta pee
but I can hold it
like my empty stomach
for food




“Did you see it, Dad?”
“What?”
“The river.”
“Yes.”



She said, “Naw,
You didn’t.
Your head was down.”
She caught me.
That’s how I miss so much,
by the wrong choices
of what and where and how and when.




Yes and yes
I can be better
change
learn
be more aware
I know I can’t
do everything
be everywhere
but I hope
I can learn
not to be a dope
and say yep not nope




I think I’m
coming apart
from shuddering
the radio news
just announced
Trump wants back
the money given
to the media
He doesn’t open his eyes
to realize
he’s making people mobilize




now the radio
is talking about fighting hunger
by putting protein in the water




I want to get out
of this movie




I do have
another candy
in my pocket
but I don’t want
to spoil my appetite




Now the radio is
getting enthusiastic
talking about actions
and how much money
the rich is riching
I can’t throw up
because my stomach is empty
glad I didn’t
eat that other candy

now it’s telling us how worms
can solve some of our plastic problems

there’s so much
going on
in the world
I can’t keep up




Sign: For Sale
They’re selling the land
not eating the dogs
Media barrages
My head spins
and yells Stop!
I just wanna eat dinner




Radio: They’re finely weaving people
Into the fabric.
I’m choking on rhetoric.




The Government is consistent.
Nobody knows what they’re doing.




There’s a truck
with foreign writing
and pictures
of men in turbans.
I know that means
Something.




Lane ends.
So do we all.




Now I’m tapping my feet
because I’m anxious.




Apparently we didn’t know
how big Brazil is.




Farmers’ loans are being cancelled.
Not only does the right hand
not know what the left hand is doing,
it doesn’t know what it’s doing to itself.




I’m looking forward
to the lake
and the bridges
and the Crags.
I know what that means.




That whole mountain
on the right
is sliding down.
Apparently
I was right.




Hello, lake.
Remember me?
Did you miss me?
I did you.




Even the car
is getting eager.
It’s going faster.




The water level’s down
in the lake.
No clouds in the sky.




I don’t know how
trees can look peaked
but they do.




And miles later,
still the lake.




Truck crowded over
like that other car did.
I know they need drivers
but apparently
they’re letting anybody.




There’s that same empty
cattle hauler truck.
I saw it just months ago.




There’s a car
parked by that restaurant
but I still don’t know
if they’re open.




Dunsmuir 27




Radio announcer
speaking English
with a British accent
I can almost understand.




Kellogg
just sold the company
There goes my youth




Cutesy voice on the radio
says My name is _____
and I just donated
my Prius to NPR.
No surprise but
I thought it would be a Tesla.




Pollard Flat.
Me too.




I turned my head
for just a second
and missed the sign.




Picture sign: Leaping deer.
Where?




I’m starting to sound
and write like
a disillusioned
World War I German poet.




Dunsmuir 16




One in three
care workers
are immigrants.
That’s a lot.




Q/A
Why is the Government
so stupid?
Because of
who elected them.




With a new Pope
there’s a lot more
Catholic in the air.
We’ll see how that goes.




When we get there
I’m going to make a beeline.
I can hardly wait.




There it is.

Dunsmuir 3




Almost.




It’s all downhill easy
from here.

And then home.