Ben Burton Poet Epic

Billy Edward's Ride 1st Half

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 Hopped out early from his bunk bed
 Jumped into his old blue jeans
 Slipped his hand into his pocket
 Found enough change for a drink

 Put his tennie to the kickstand
 Hopped aboard his three-speed bike
 Smiled in great anticipation
 Drew a breath of summertime

 Strapped his helmet to his noggin
 Heading on a morning ride
 He had reason to be smiling
 Now that this day had arrived

 Billy rode along the asphalt
 Like a bird he felt so free
 No more classrooms, no more homework
 School was out for twelve whole weeks

 He cruised past Demato's grocery
 An old stucco painted white
 Where good gossip was the staple
 Soft-boiled peanuts on the side

 Heard some geese honk from the mill pond
 Saw a yearling near the pass
 Billy eased off on the pedals
 Trying to make the moment last

 Sunlight gently swept across him
 O'er the treeline at the rise
 Fragrant honeysuckle blossomed
 In the holler near Route Five
 
 And he wondered about Heaven
 Could it be as nice as this
 He was sure of one thing nicer
 His dear grandpa whom he missed

 As miles disappeared behind him
 And his thirst began to build
 He had one more place to visit
 For his trip to be fulfilled
 
 Soon he reached the Tower Toll Bridge
 Though no toll was ever paid
 Inside joke by the designers
 Built for one car, either way

 In the distance he could see it
 A lone tombstone on a grave
 The old church that stood beside it
 Had a century's decay

 He dismounted at the entrance
 And approached the ancient sign
 All it said was Billy Edwards
 Born in eighteen-fifty-nine

 Date of death gone to erosion
 But his age was given - eight
 And the last time Billy came here
 Both their ages were the same

 For a full year he had worried
 If he'd die within that time
 Just the same as Billy Edwards
 Now he had some peace-of-mind

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