Poetry Month: April 6: Road Rhythm

If you live in Alexandria--and pay attention to poetry--you may have heard about the MAPP project. Initiated by my successor, Amy Young, the MAPP project is trying to get poems and pictures of the various streets and scenes in Alexandria, with an eye toward establishing an interactive map of the city. Upon its completion, you should be able to open up a map of Alexandria, click on a location, and see a poem, a photograph, a piece of art that is particular to that spot.

And so, I have been writing poems about my city--as have others--in the hope of covering the city with poems and pictures. Here's one.

Road Rhythm

Mason, Duncan,

Bellefonte, Howell,

Windsor, Custis,

East Del Ray.

My homecoming song

has a rhythm all its own;

along the parkway,

Slater’s Lane, Monroe--

then finally, Mt. Vernon,

where I launch

the joyous chorus:

Mason, Duncan,

Bellefonte, Howell,

Windsor, Custis,

East Del Ray.

East Del Ray and home.