Song of the Taconic Parkway

Chatham, Columbia County, N.Y., by Michael

Old two-lane Taghkanic highway of brittle macadam
slices through the hunting grounds of the Algonquins
sunlight
filters through clouds
plays tricks on the mountains
gives them wrinkles
tints them purple
tickles the heather on their slopes
and makes it shimmer
tires thump on black rubber joints
between pale roadway slabs
in perfect time to the Bukka White blues on the radio
the ghosts of the Dutch
still haunt the geography
of this place
where creeks
are called kills
and rolling thunder
is but the mirth of giants playing tenpins