A Portrait of Interstate 94

While I was driving through the countryside, delighting in its glory

My thoughts dwelt on artists who have tried to capture this great story.

I followed skies from gray to blue, with wisps and puffs of cloud

And closing in from side to side were dark fields neatly plowed.

Fields ripe for sowing...interspersed with prairie overgrowing...

Painted every brown and green that you and I have ever seen...

And yet, it wasn't ALL serene!

For as I traveled, mesmerized, along that road that wound and stretched

Enjoying all I saw and smelt, and hoping it was firmly etched

In my mind...but, what's this? Oh no Lord, please!

The charred remains of once proud trees...

In my breast burns growing ire to see this forest marred by fire!

Though their green tresses have been shorn, a valiant effort to be reborn

Can be seen at their bases...

I'm overjoyed to see some traces...of new life!

My children sleep behind me: their bickering took its toll.

Poetry, peace and music fill my soul.

The sun at last has triumphed o'er the storm.

The weather has turned humid and quite warm.

Fleetingly I wish I had the skills to paint the beauty of these plains and hills.