OKCD Presents: pebbles, debris

Poem and MP3 Audio Excerpt: A roadside scene (1:31) Where the road turns sharply down the camber slopes the wrong way trees shroud the hill on both sides the surface is rough and slippery. A man is picking his way along the edge the rain makes tears on his face trucks are looming up beside him it is not a good time to be doing this. It is never a good time at this corner the downward cars go swishing by he takes old flowers from the broken fence on the last post he hangs a new bouquet. He hears an engine howling nearer sees it leaning for the corner sees the front wheel slide away the bike cascading in a flash of sparks. He stands foursquare with arms outstretched catches the somersaulting body of the boy oh, they go flying but he has him he has him and he holds him safe. By all the miserable roadside shrines wait memories with outstretched arms calling names in desperate whispers shuffling through the withering flowers.