In the Middle of the Road

Not a scratch on it. Cars blur,

take the slim country road at 60.

Looks like the left one, pointed west

across the double yellow line, buffed,

brown, gentle oval at the toe. Perhaps

the blessèd shoe of a traveling missionary.

Could be the trail of the newly ex-

wife sprinkling the dregs of her marriage

piece-by-piece out the car window.

Or maybe the police haven’t cleaned

all the accident; what remains

is the one tied

in a double-knot for long

walks to the library, worn

to church to match Granddad’s tweed

suit, the one polished to dress up

for God, one from the last best pair.


Also by Alexandra Burack

$hare