Border

I am 52 or so
Driving off the map
Northwest of Laredo the
District Engineer is riding shot
Gun and we are off on adventure
Long overdue driving the old road
From Laredo to Eagle Pass long
Abandoned and no longer on
The state highway maps but
Still used locally by whom
We are better not aware
As we see the FDR WPA
Culverts and bridges
In various disrepair
We cross trails of
Illegals and of
Drug lords
But it is
Day so
Luck
Allows
Us passage
All the way to
Eagle Pass and
Lunch with staff
Then we drive back
To Laredo the long safe
Route but we both enjoy
Silently musing on our
Off map adventure
Then I drive back
To Austin and
Luis to his
District
Office
But
I take
Back with
Me a souvenir
From by the road
Just northwest of Laredo
A black shiny anthracite lump
A completely odd surprise to me.