the hilly, curvy county roads leading
to the trails I hike every day during
my week in western North Carolina.
Heading into the curves, I lift my foot
from the accelerator and give it
some gas only when I’m two-thirds
of the way through, gently speeding up
into the straightaways, but never going
too fast when the road straightens
because the next curve is just ahead.
I learned this skill by observing the locals,
who hardly ever use their brakes,
even on the most twisty-turny roads
around here. But they know these
backroads by heart and don’t have
to think about how to drive them,
while I do have to think about it until
thinking is no longer necessary, and
I can just drive and sing along with
my honky-tonk playlist as I pass by
fields and little country churches,
harmonizing with the song and the road.
©2025 Jim Magaw
