On the Road in the West
toast to the new
year and my way,
to roam at last
across South Dakota…
arteries streaming over hills
through the plains, red
highways of the rangelands
posted at the rest
stop for pissing, a
sign says no hunting
in Bighorn National Forest…
towering over dense hills
of forest, snow-capped
peaks shine like diamonds
wildlife of Wyoming…
a posted warning speaks
the truth, herd of
slow cows stopping traffic
grazing along the shoulder
of the road, family
of cows, hello darling
picking at the grass
among the pebbles, mama
and baby sheep roadside
an impromptu stop to
refuel, cow milks her
young on the road
a crossroads for the
wildlife, cows line up
to cross the highway
with Yellowstone on the horizon…
from dry plains rolling
to lush hills distant,
mountains go into clouds
vast open space for
miles, a skinny-legged
fawn on the prairie
Gonzalo Adolfo is a Bolivian-American writer and author of the novel, No Rush for Gold, and the poetry volume, Gone to War. His international publication credits include The Opiate, Black Bamboo Haiku Anthology, and Vita Brevis. He lives in Berkeley, California. Follow his work at: bumhew.com