I'll take the slow road

I'll take the slow road,
finding surprises around each bend,
like an old barn
or a row of mailboxes
wildflowers and white picket fences
rebel flags defiantly blowing
in the Southern breeze

I'll take the slow road,
with the yellow road signs
that foretell the future like
Narrow Bridge Ahead
Railroad Crossing
or just a curvy arrow

I'll take the slow road,
by pastures of grazing horses
bales of fresh mown hay
rows of corn intertwined
with green runner beans and
bowed heads of sunflowers

I'll take the slow road,
with stop signs along the way
that suggest I should
stop to see the view
stop to smell the flowers
or even pick a bouquet,
stop and stick my toes in the creek
that runs under the narrow bridge ahead

The interstate highways are
straight, smooth, fast, convenient,
all the things you might look for in a road,
if you like fast lanes
and lots of traffic,
and watching billboards pass by
is your idea of scenery

Not me,
I'll take the slow road every time.

~Susan Tidwell 2007

"Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel from coast to coast without seeing anything." ~Charles Kuralt


~webshots photo