FORTY (3)

seen a man standin' over a dead dog by the highway in a ditch.
he's lookin' down kinda puzzled, pokin' that dog with a stick.
got his car door flung open, he's standin' out on highway 31
like if he stood there long enough that dog'd get up and run...

[bruce springsteen, "reason to believe"
from "nebraska", 1982]

FORTY (2)

once he reached for something golden hanging from a tree
but his hand came down empty...


[carole king, "tapestry"]

FORTY

he never had to pass this station, wave
in sad acknowledgement of absent choirs
lining bleak unbusy platforms... save
your laurels: this gift too, today, expires.