On the Road at Dusk

sudden small towns rear up
explode across the windshield
as dusk softens to vigilance



rural towns, grey days, blue dusk
long quiet highway lined with dead hulks
abandoned farms, lost dreams of survival and refuge



empty buildings full of blue light and ghosts
roofs open to chill bullet rains
on wind dry prairies with no names



silent but for hiss and hum of tires
on tarmac passing, then back to silence
a single croak of phantom grackle

settling in for long winter's night