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Highway 99 Revisited

Hitchhiking home with my best friend
in the late seventies, I think it was.

Armed with the assumption of immortality
that often accompanies youth,
we ignored the possibilities of danger.

In retrospect, behind our painted smiles,
there seemed to be a hint of desperation
as we stood on the shoulder of the passage.

I recall looking at the highway signs.
None of the harbingers emblazoned there
mentioned the different directions we were headed.

About This Poem

Style/Type: Free verse

Review Request Intensity: I appreciate moderate constructive criticism

Editing Stage: Editing - polished draft

About the Author

Region, Country: San Francisco Bay Area - USA, USA

Favorite Poets: Bukowski, Billy Collins, Ted Kooser, Haiku & Harvey Kurtzman (a visual poet, of sorts)

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Comments

Geezer

Geezer

2 weeks ago

Yes...


I did it too! I hitched rides right up until I was in my late thirties, never thought about the dangers.

I did run into a couple of scary characters, but didn't think much about it.
Funny how we don't consider the friendships and where they are going. 
I would liked to have heard more about the relationships and what happened to them. ~ Geez.
.

Michael Anthony

Michael Anthony

1 week 6 days ago

Thanks Geez! I only hitched…

Thanks Geez! I only hitched a couple of times, but looking back I was lucky to do it unscathed (one guy was definitely DUI - yikes!). Surviving my youth sometimes seems to have been a minor miracle when I look back now.

Best