I’ve seen so many of them here.
Here on Oahu’s “West Side”.
“The West Side… ”
A loaded moniker for sure among local people.
Often declared with pride
when thus self-identified.
Nanakuli, Maili, Waianae…
Makaha!
Farrington Highway fronts them all to the end.
All the way to Makua and Kaena Point.
——
I’ve seen them all along Farrington.
These markers.
These shadow crossings.
And on the older valley roads too.
Lualualei Naval Road, Mailiilii, and Hakimo.
Of course roadside memorials to fallen family and friends, are nothing specific to this place, or even these islands.
They’ve just been on my mind recently.
As I so often drive “The West Side.”
——
As I do my job, driving my precious cargo.
I see this most recent one still regularly visited by family and friends.
They add to the collection of flowers, ribbons and stuffed animals on the telephone pole and pedestrian crossing sign.
They sit on lawn chairs by their cars.
Bent over, legs wide.
Heads down, hands clasped in prayer.
——
So many people crossing, walking, running, riding bicycles and skateboards.
Dressed in black.
Like shadows.
So many cars, trucks, busses, motorcycles and scooters.
Driving so very wild.
Every now and then I see one, driving without headlights.
Like a big, heavy, fast-moving shadow.
——
Here on the… “The Wild West Side”.
Here I drive.
Driving my Handi-Van.
Looking for shadows crossing.
Oh…
Oh my…
What…?
Was that?…
I almost didn’t see…
A shadow.
Crossing me?
——
Blessed…
m(___)m
