the earthworms are surfacing

i don't need to look under every rock

it's all self-evident

that the body speaks for itself

you don't need to walk every hollow

to know that the hillsides are slipping

the fog takes days to lift

and then of course that isn't the whole picture

i used to stand at the top of the city steps

and look as far west as possible

breaking out of the box takes many attempts

you find yourself at the side of a highway

looking for a route that always seems to escape you

when the fall rains come

denim is your only covering

the rain comes down gray

coal barges spit what's left overboard

you wanna grab what's left of a blue sky

     walk with your back straight

--- e b bortz