Jeffrey Winke

Miles Alone through Cedar and Birch

It's off season here, which means I stand out wherever I go. The gas station guy double-checks my charge plate confirmation, although he was plenty pleasant. Even the county sheriff who pulls me over for speeding, gives me a warning rather than a ticket, after an extraordinarily long time in his squad. He had clocked me at 37 in a 25 zone. I apologize profusely...explaining that it's incredibly invigorating to drive miles alone through cedar and birch forest, and pass through towns with populations smaller than my graduating high school class.

rural spring
machine slug among the change
left near the creamer