Michael Lee Johnson lived ten years in Canada during the Vietnam era. Today he is a poet,
freelance writer, photographer, and small business owner in Itasca,
Illinois. He has been published in more
than 875 small press magazines in 27 countries, and he edits 9 poetry
sites. Author's website http://poetryman.mysite.com/ He has over 70 poetry
videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/
Indiana Poem
A few tales
of the reasons
I love Indiana.
Breaking loose from the state line
of Illinois, bursting down the Indiana
toll road near Lake Station
heading south
smelling smoke of old
gray steel mills
seeping out
of Gary
left behind me.
Work disappeared, dreams died-
steel men, strong men
ribs of fire courage of
union dreamers
long gone and most laid off
pension plans stolen,
now gas station employees
travelers of the
past, snuff chewers
labor wages and laws,
small lakes and fishing ponds
with half sunken boats
with tips pointed sky high
and memories dripping
off the lips of clouds.
I am banging out 75 mph
in my raspberry Geo Tracker-
as Jesus said to me:
“I tell you the truth
nothing ever changes in
Indiana but the seasons
and size of the corn ears."
~Michael Lee Johnson
