EISENHOWER INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM

Illinois was the easiest.
We came prepared to cut
through forest and glacial
rock, but we encountered little,
mostly thorny brush, tall grass,
marsh, bog, swamp and mud thick
enough to grip to shoes. We washed
our face with mosquito blood
and rested in each other's shadow.
Heat melted rivers into shallow
pools and we ate tadpoles.
Farmer's daughters welcomed us.
We were the builders of the nation.

Michael H. Brownstein