Dusty Shale Road Poem by JAMES T. ADAIR

Dusty shale roads
I used to walk along in my youth
kicking stones in front of me
and watching them bounce and land

Feeling the fresh moist morning air
and hearing the leaves rustle
a rabbit scampering
as my noise did startle it

I used to walk down to the lake
turn over rocks and look for worms
or orange and black salamanders
watched draggonflies settle on the water
and then fly away

somtimes I'd find a very flat piece of rock
and skip it at a low angle on the water
and try to break my record for the most skips
and then watch it sink

I used to like the way my blue jeans jacket felt
the hop in my step and in my Converse sneakers
I could run and feel the wind in my eyes
and hop accross streams trying not to get wet

I remember finding a big rock near the water
and laying back upon it
and feeling the suns rays upon me as I closed my eyes
Life was simpler then and I miss it so

Life used to be carefree
and I miss that feeling inside
sometimes I feel I never really fit in the world
But I still remember when it felt I did

© James T. Adair