state route 83

a ribbon of cracked gray
pavement cuts along rolling
green fields dotted with weeds

and wildflowers. overhead
two red-tailed hawks drift in lazy

circles searching for prey.
off in the distance a derelict
barn slowly decays, its rough

hewn sides barely covered
by faded coats of dull red paint.

and high atop the sagging roof
a rusted weather vane stands
askew forever facing east.