Outlines Poem by Roger Gerald Hicks

Paper odors: sulfur tinge,
moist rolled gruel scent. Each scrap
finger-print distinct.Only months ago I was
a butterfly on her thigh...

now constantly mono-directional.
Zoom past Blythe, jibe at Albuquerque
"Wrong Direction! "

Then maybe lickety-split to Corpus. Toe-the-Gulf
pause,
sweaty clothes irritating like hollow complements.

Next
roll-ripping Portland bound,gas
card greasy-fingers blackened.
Only windshield & mirrors clean.
Del Rio static songs & pleas: Serve J-e-s-u-s!

Seat, floorboards strewn w/ crumpled maps,
plastic bottles crushed,
chewed foam coffee cups,
dirtynapkins, candywrapper scraps.

Portland to Laramie- checkerboard blare.
Can't savor the view, strapped in. No
diversions; course locked.

Miles clicking odo sanes me.
Days sandwiched w/ sleeps. Months vanish
like whole trains piercing mountains.
Something pursues, often roars ahead.

Swapping energy for distance-
swapped for time- swamping memories.
More & more: I am nose art