Highway 80

Whatley 25 Wallace Whatley Highway 80 Highway 80 takes you west Into Tuskegee, all 4 lights, The square, and out Again on the other side on West Martin L. King Highway, a Comfortable old 4-lane for awhile Until left lane merges right again As things were miles back, and West 80 is again old 2-lane Laid down on land And narrow bridges Looking down on water Where stationary turtles Pause at the surface Like a splinter in the skin, And the hungry carp And the gar and his fangs Anger the surface with circles, And all the low damp land Presses the highway with Deep and sober foliage holding Burdens of faded moss, an old Highway that answers the tires With healed seams and scars, Mailboxes gone dark with rust, Old stores closed, Montgomery 21 Selma 65 ...