Long Distance Voyager

 Long Distance Voyager 

John Clare Stokes

Long as he could recall he observed

Seeing most of it all

Knew what went on in the

Saturday night Sand Hill spots

When in those Nova’s the gears

burned, spinning stuck in sand

Before there were towers erected

To ping the location

The only tower on the hill pulsating distant 

Dangling strands of last years Christmas bulbs

A beacon pointing eastward home

And more often than not 

You struck out in a trot

To flag down some Gulf Hammock

bound peanut farmer 

Intent upon the dogs and deer chasing

But taking the time to yank you free

And the voyager knew where you stuck

That secret place out past Devils Den

Where no Sheriff Hartley car was patrolling 

To the pious Valerie’s lining Noble

you were pure they were sure

Rescued from the perishing son

Washed in Red Devil blood

Sitting upright in Gertrude Fletchers 

Sunday School room

Crossed arms

Holding hands so Preacher couldn’t see and an intent congregation 

Not at all keeping time with the

Metered hand of Doyle Crosby and

Vera playing Send the light

But stuck upon a distant chord from

Lead singer halfback Jackie and the

Woman’s Club band

That other certain kind of light

Emanating from the far sand hills

A spook light if you will

And the voyager knew you had

Seen that ghostly light

Even if you never walked an aisle

It shown in your smile

As Wesley and family nudged you

Back toward the narrow way

The arms uncrossed for a moment

Almost raising to count the cost

But to those pulsating sand hill firefly’s 

The Boones Farm form of communion wine

Your stainless ID steady bracelet rattling gently 

Upon her delicate wrist

The cheerleader blushing red lips kissed

The Gulf Hammock deer in the cross sights look

And he never saw the Seaboard lights flashing 

But the long distant voyager did.