Miles stretch out through these hills

like a piece of pulled taffy.

I’ve checked the markers

with the odometer.

It isn’t so.

Although five miles

feels like ten,

you learn to get used to it.

There’s no sense being in a rush,

that just makes things worse.

It always takes longer

than expected –

so I tell folks,

add fifteen minutes

to every trip.

The same can be said

of this lingering ache

that I first noticed

after your funeral.

It should be gone by now.

It isn’t so.