Long Rest area Poems

Adventures With James My Grandson 

by Joan Donnelly 1995

 He doesn't walk but runs to his subject on interest,
 and upon arrival, leaps into the air.
 With bended knees and flattened feet he lands like...

Read More

Their dad had had a heart attack 
since they had seen him last.
In May they said, "Let's visit him,
cuz time's a passing fast."

He doesn't drive, he sold his car
so he'll not come to us.
and we...

Read More

The alarm goes off and I rise up, for a moment foggy from sleep.
I look through the curtain and stare out at the world in front of me.
Where am I ?  My mind is...

Read More

Microsleeps vs Powernaps

The boredom of freeway driving is like a hypnotist's sleep talk
The constant drone of the car's engine
The flash of lane markers to and fro, to and fro
You're bored and tired, you're mind wanders,...

Read More

“What’s going on, what’s next?”
(Medi-Vac on the way, keep pumping!)
A faint roar and whop-whop-whop-whop
(No not there! The south-bound lane! Over...)

The median grass was newly cut but still tall
(Lean over him so the grass won’t get...

Read More

Lord! Why me? I try to live a life free of disorder,
Yet I'm forever greeted by signs reading "Out Of Order!"
Invariably, when I'm confronted with some dire emergency,
I'm faced with that leering sign adding to...

Read More

I am going on a journey in my mind, and I didn’t save a seat for negativity
I choose to take along a dear friend I like to hang out with called positivity
I will pack my...

Read More

I left home in early July, headed to arid Arizona
to explore the Gran Canyon in all its splendor;
the ride went smoothly, stopping at a rest area
to refresh, eating breakfast and hurrying back...
the bold spirit of...

Read More

The waiter asked:  “Do you want that here or to go.
I replied: “if I eat it here don’t I get to take it with me?”


((oldies but goodies}}

“Waiter!  Waiter!  There’s a fly in...

Read More

on the way home,
i change the new map
to the longest scenic route
though my Sweets is waiting for me,
i cannot find myself to punctually return
i stop at a newly built rest area because my hypertension is...

Read More

We were riding in the car near the Alabama line,
When I saw all over the trees a strange looking vine.

I wondered what it was, I didn’t have a clue.
I asked my mother what it was...

Read More

First Encounter

I first heard its name in passing,
somewhere between Boston and New York, someone
at the rest area mistook it for another Mexican invasion 
"That's why we need the wall."
If only we could build a wall...

Read More

How do they do it?
I don’t understand;
Where ever I go,
They know where I am.

I was on a college campus
Just the other day;
Looking for the library,
I lost my way.
There in the Quad
I found a map
And they...

Read More

On the Garden State Parkway
In New Jersey state,
There are places to stop
To put food on your plate

Or put gas in your tank
Or prevent further grief
With a stop to the restrooms
To get some relief.

Certain rest stops...

Read More

Oh strange, strange land. 
The physics do not fit.
The cord of interstate wends,
Through this place of upside-down rocks.

I climb down from the truck,
And wind and sand and sun and secrets
Run over me like dancing children.

I...

Read More