The Points Between Mileposts

[couchgrouch]

The Points Between the MilepostsI was due by sunset at Diamond Lakemy buddies told me what road to takethe washboard one by milepost eightbut I missed my turnI knew that weekend wouldn't starttill I brought our Lowenbrau Darkbut I saw a cross standing cold and starkby an old Douglas Firtold the fellas I was sorrywhen I showed up at the fishing shackas the night grew dark and starryI got distracted looking atthe points between milepoststhings I'd seldom seenpoppy patches like swaying dreamswhen the cool breeze blowsshapes and shadows in the forest misthow wind and blackbird wings seem to kissyeah I was glad I didn't missthe points between milepostswe each grabbed ourselves a beeruntied the boat from that moonlit pierdrifted out and talked about the yearsthat marked their livesJoe bought his first junker at sixteenMike turned eighteen and joined the MarinesUncle Frank couldn't wait till Springwhen he'd retire at sixty-fivewell, I had no storiestied to certain datesas midnight gave birth to morningI just tried to relatethe points between milepostsetched so deep in my mindthings outside the cage of timethat seemed to mean the mostmy wife's shining eyes when she dances with mereading Dr. Seuss to the twins on my kneesI forget my birthday but try to seethe points between milepoststhe moon hung low in the skyas we talked on in that boatthings got still when I told the guysabout that cross near the roadwe raised our Lowenbrausand touched bottles in a toasttalked about living for nowin case today's the last milepostyeah, the points between milepostsetched so deep in my mindthings outside the cage of timethey seem to mean the most(c)2005 Robert George