North Headed South

Though I tried to elude them,

miles of boot prints followed me.

If I ran, they moved faster.

If I stopped, my tracks would wait.

If I stumbled and fell,

they would not laugh nor tell me

I was a fool, nothing�"I tolerated that.

Still they would not help me up;

likewise, I did not trust them.

 

I once drove across the U.S.

to get free. I got all the way

to Joplin, Missouri, but when

I stopped at a truck stop,

there they were again.

They had followed me all that far.

     I dropped my hot dog and Pepsi,

filled the Buick with gasoline;

and with tires spinning and gravel flying,

I left those footprints behind.

I did not stop till Shreveport,

Louisiana (blown engine) where I parked

under a street light and rolled

down the window.  I looked out

in all directions�"coast seemed clear.

So I ditched the car and boarded a bus north

to Lincoln, Nebraska, and I did not look back.

    I figured, if I were me, I would think

that I would still be heading south�"

I am that predictable. I felt safe for once

asleep on a bus heading north.

 

    When I woke up I was in Miami.

I was not expecting this. So I found

a small café where I sat downing coffee

and a slice of coconut cream pie.

 

Outside, as I expected,

my footsteps were there waiting for me

in the street.

 

One set led off on
to heaven.
One set led off on
to hell.
My waitress, filling my cup again,
suggested that I should take the set
that led off on
back to Oklahoma.

 

Reviews

[Raef C. Boylan]

I love the unselfconscious quirkiness of this piece; trying to escape your footprints at the forefront...while I guess, as Emily says, it's more about escaping yourself. No matter how fast you run or drive...you're there, along for the ride. It's hard trying to trick yourself; we're all predictable when it comes down to it - and even when we break out of a pattern, We were there with Us at the exact moment it happened, so We're not exactly surprised.
The casual story-telling tone is pleasant to read -

"I did not stop till Shreveport, Louisiana (blown engine)".

Overall, really great piece terryg. I'm glad you're still on form, and back.
Thanks for posting this.

[Persephone Blum]

Haha, I love this! Such an interesting idea, trying to escape your footprints! Trying to get rid of your own predictableness... very interesting!

[Emily B]

I AM that predictable, too. And no matter where I go, there I am.

It's good to see you back with us. :-)