The sun completes
yet another cycle
casting a long shadow
that provides a vagabond’s
only traveling companion
with whom he shares thoughts
and secrets that complement
the earth’s hazy skies.
They are both world travelers,
but the sun knows where it is headed
and sees miles beyond the horizon:
it is the leader.
The man takes each day
one step at a time
shading his eyes
in the gloaming
looking ahead at cornfields
to bed down for the night
among the stalks
where he can scavenge
fresh corn, unroll plastic
on which to place his bedding
and more to tie to tall stalks
for protection from the elements.
The follower straddles muddy ruts,
not paved paths that cramp his feet
and his style. Nature’s fall coloring
is slowly overtaking his path—
mocking his age—
and he will soon turn south
where nights are warmer.
He will glean meals
and work fields
like any migrant.
With meager wages
he will shop thrift sales
along the way, shower
at truck stops and buy coffee,
then follow the sun.
Copyright © 2023 Nancy Jo Allen
All Rights Reserved
Nancy Jo Allen lives in Columbia, Missouri. Her first poetry collection, Wrinkles in Time and in Love, is available through Kelsay Books and Amazon. Her second collection will be published fall, 2023, through Kelsay Books and available also through Amazon.
Featured Image: Courtesy of Unsplash
Editor: Barbara Harris Leonhard
MasticadoresUSA is open for submissions. Send your submissions to meelosmom@gmail.com.
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MasticadoresUsa // Editor: Barbara Leonhard 
Lovely lovely! Hey Nancy. I think I know this man you talk about. He’s the one I pray for nightly. I recognized him as he looks into the gloaming and is heading south. Always following the sun. May his legs get him south soon. I feel lots in your lovely words. Thanks for penning this. Touched my soul. Blessing you.
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Nancy, the image of the vagabond being accompanied by the sun carried me through the poem. He clearly isn’t alone, and neither are we. Thank you for submitting!
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This piece truly touched my heart. It made me feel like I believe we truly are just visiters, here for a short time, we are not the ones in charge and never have been. Your words are beautiful. I don’t know if I am reading more into this but it feels like we may all start out ahead (or think we are better off than others) but in the end on earth anyway we will all experience many of the same things. Again, this piece really touched my heart, it has depth to it, like an incredible piece of art. So beautiful, I hope that we get to hear from you again here. Thank you, hugs, Joni
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This had me pondering on so many things Nancy.
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