Four-Wheel-Drive Pioneer

Even in the swamp I am a city boy.
Three tons of machine against nature
primeval thrashing, sucking me under.

I will conquer cypress knee and sawgrass
to build a small solar cabin. To escape
the siege of the city I will make a road.

Gravel from mountainsides in Georgia,
loblolly from the Carolinas, slate from
Tennessee riverbeds I'll bring the swamp.

I will crack oystershells on weekends
away from busroutes and timetables,
if someone comes to pull me out.

The 2River View, 3_2 (Winter 1999)