Lost Vagabond Highway

Wind chill harsh against exposed skin

like an old raw wound that didn’t heal

trudging through the morass of time

unsure of what I’m supposed to feel

my thumb out in feeble supplication

that winter rain chills me to the bone

out here on this vagabond highway

another lost soul searching for a home

and I hear your voice in my heart

feel your love somewhere up ahead

force myself to walk another mile

remembering all the things you said

hear that lonesome whistle of a semi

gears meshing shifting down to low

hop up in that shiny eighteen wheeler

thank him for an offered cup of Joe

a hundred miles of swapping heartaches

two more truck-stops talking pain

at the turn-off for the border I thank him

I step once more into the pouring rain

and the wind still carries your voice to me

my heart still feels the tug of love

with luck I’ll be in your arms tomorrow

my sweet, sweet turtle dove

the temperature dropped to minus thirty

the snow squall caught him unaware

shivering he laid down by the roadside

the next morning they found him there

in his hand was her rumpled photograph

on the back with hearts signed “I love you so!”

only five more miles to his destination

her loving arms that now would never know…