Ode to a Pothole

First, there was a deer track

to a creek running fresh water

for deer, fish, and birds

and beavers and wildlife.

Then it became a cowpath

to move cattle to market.

Next, it became a rutty dirt road

leading people with

mules and wagons to the market.

Soon, it was surfaced

with asphalt and a bridge 

was built over the creek, 

so cars and trucks

could get to the market.

After a while, the road

started to wear out.

So it was repaved

and as it wore out again

it was again repaved.

Some years went by

but no one wanted to pay 

to take care of the road anymore

So when the rain came

water seeped into worn cracks

and the snow and ice

froze and thawed

thawed and froze

so the cracks got worse

then bumpety-bump,

wheels broke this piece

and that chunk

until whump, whumpety, bang!

A tire broke in a huge pothole 

So the pothole was patched 

with asphalt

and the freezing and thawing

and thawing and freezing

made a new pothole

on the old pothole patch

but people stopped caring

about fixing the road

and it began to crumble.

Years went by

and no one used the old jagged

crumbly asphalt and dirt road

Instead, people made

a bigger road a mile or so away.

The old road grew grasses

from seeds blown across it

and pretty soon, it was hidden

among grasses and bushes,

even a tree grew 

where the pothole had been,

The deer found their way

among the weeds and asphalt crumbles

to get to the water in the creek

where the sagging, broken bridge 

helped the beavers

to make a new dam

for their home

where the fish swim

and the birds and deer and wildlife 

drink water.

JM 2026-06-25