At a Loss

.

Going down Highway Three
on his way to Japan
he begins           
                        to gather words written
                      on construction stakes
                      in the dust and weeds
at intervals  

Bringing them home                  
                                                              he realizes
                                                            that they are all
                      inadequate

So he goes back                                
and pulls up                     
all the stakes         
on this stretch
of curve           
 
                          leaving their dry     lettered
carcasses             
 
                                                                  beside the road
                      to lie
.

.