Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE NEW HIGHWAY, by ELIZABETH MORSE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE NEW HIGHWAY, by                    
First Line: My fear is the fear of the road - of the new highway
Last Line: All the years in between the boy and the man -- all the fears!
Subject(s): Fear; Roads; Paths; Trails


My fear is the fear of the road -- of the new highway,
And the wishful eyes of my boy, when his glances stray
To a stretch that is already laid with wet concrete --
Oh, the restless shuffle and shift of his teasing feet!

My fear is the fear of the finished road, and the roar
Of adventuring cars that will speed by our cabin door;
The laughter and talk of the city folks, and the way
He'll listen, and brighten, and ponder the things they say.

My fear is the fear of the evils he may not resist --
A rush of wine in his blood, of desires that persist;
The tempting lights of the city, the lure of the song --
To a mountain lad whose passions run heedless and strong.

My fear is the fear of his youth and a wayward will;
Of yearnings that tore at my young heart -- and frighten me still;
For the battles his soul must fight at a bruising cost,
Are the same soul battles I fought at his age -- and lost!

My fear is the primitive fear of all mothers of men,
Coming up from the throes of travail with a man-child. Then
a babe at the breast; a boy at the knee -- and the years --
All the years in between the boy and the man -- all the fears!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net