old roads

too new, should grow

when I was a girl

riding along

in the back seat

of the old station wagon

with my grandparents,

 

I remember

pappaw always going out of his way

to take the old road . . .

 

miles out of the way

sometimes

 

that old road curved more,

had more character,

suited him better,

 

and I wonder

sometimes

if he wasn't longing

to get back to the old ways

 

with no way of knowing

what the old ways

might be

Reviews

[Sel Whiteley]

Wow, that's one stunning write, taking the bendier, more characterful (and character-building roads°. Love the succinct lines within this and the use of diction such as pappaw which I've never heard before and gives a definite idea of place. You draw the family scene so vividly and nostalgically, I love it.

[An Ordinary Woman]

a lovely sentiment & probably an accurate guess too. I like taking the long way with hills and curves, the surprises are always worth it. A turkey walking nonchalantly like she belongs there, a giant snapping turtle heading to the next pond.

A few months ago I met two donkeys and a mule walking right down the middle off the road with a line of cars behind 'em. And the wouldn't move! I loved it. lol

Old roads are the best. And Grandpa knew it!

[Siddhartha]

Searing nostalgia. The familiarity of the past even when unknown is infinitely more soothing ( even when irrational) to the heart than the dread of the new. thought I should mention this: how the poems in here aim straight for the heart.

[Tommy]

I was young then, when traveling was freedom, and each old road, was new to me, opening my eyes to the world. I wonder when we lost sight of that innovation. When I was a kid, all the youngins in our family rode in the back of an old Ford pickup truck, on all our trips we took. Sometimes, when we hit the dirt, we even would even put the tailgaite down, and hang our legs over the side of it, making the feel of the road all the more free. Yes, I miss when the old roads were new to me...

Great Write Emily!
RLG,
Tommy

[arbitrary jane]

i feel like it needs a splash more specificity. what suited him better? the dappled shadows? the ditches, strewn with wildflowers? the tilted fenceposts that were neglected and happy about it? ...
i'm an old roads kind of girl. sing it for us.

[W.k.kortas]

The framework is clearly here; I think it just needs some fleshing out, some narration from your pappaw, maybe the snippets of some song lyrics you used to sing on the rides. The road is, however, clearly going toward the right place.

[John Jackson (El Juero)]

Yes, i love the 'old roads'. Fewer and farther between these days. I am a people person, and there are no people on the Turnpike. None that want to have a conversation, anyway.
I really enjoyed, and identified with this complete poem. I felt as though i was in the back of that Station wagon, too.

Love it!