Friday, March 28, 2014

The Old Hammond Highway



The interstate, elevated through swamp
for 23 miles, parallels its predecessor,
the Old Hammond Highway, finessing
the way between lakes and swamp,
fishing camps and gas flaring. We drive
across the flatness above the water, the sky
overwhelming like an old Dutch landscape.
Then I see the old car, a light blue
’54 Chevrolet, white-topped, speeding
along the old highway below, and the boy,
perhaps five or six, coat and bow tie,
the boy, buzz-topped, peering
from the back-seat window, until he looks up
and sees me. He waves, and keeps waving,
until the Chevrolet disappears behind trees,
I see him only once more, as the car rises above
the road onto the bridge over the channel, then
descending once again into the trees. I still see
the waving hand, the smile, the buzz-topped
blond hair, the window slightly lowered,
allowing the air past and present to cool
the interior.



Photograph by Alex Grichenko via Public Domain Pictures. Used with permission.

3 comments:

  1. Can't help but wonder if that waving boy is you, Glynn. Perfect selection of images.

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  2. I had the same thought as Maureen, Glynn . . . Present melding with past.
    Blessings!

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