Highway 1, south from Iowa City –
the asphalt umbilical cord
that connects me still
to the placenta of Middle America.
Kalona was my womb and I suckled
at the breast of Mennonite farmland.

I came of age during the Cold War,
waited for the briny husks
of American cities to implode
in the firestorm of nuclear terror
and felt the frigid antagonism of nations
distill the passions of my youth.

I served aboard cold American steel
on the high seas and collected
my wits in Mediterranean
and North Atlantic ports of call.

The circumference of my dreams
is more than one lifetime of lost love.
I have suffered the survival of hope
and been hobbled by visions
of a disingenuous future.

Now night approaches on crutches,
the ending to a gratuitous
journey and beginning of a new
circumnavigation of eternity.
I have lived for this moment of sadness
and joy, the release of my spirit
to the dust storms of history.

David Miller has been writing poetry for more than 25 years. His work has most recently appeared in the anthology, Poets Open Forum @ The Little Professor Book Company in Fort Wayne, Volume II (available through Little Professor Book Company) and in his chapbook, Scrapbook Memories published in 2000 by Harvest Art Press.
David is the founder of Harvest Art Productions which produces poetry related events around the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area, publishes the e-zine harvest-art.com, and operates a fledgling small press - Harvest Art Press. David is the Editor of both harvest-art.com and Harvest Art Press. In July and August of 2000, David toured the U.S. for five weeks, reading his poetry in coffee shops and bookstores.
Check out his ezine: HARVEST ART