Written from behind the steering wheel, “Highway Haikus” are a semi-regular, when-the-spirit-moves-us, feature of  “Travels with Ace,” the continuing tale of one man and one dog who moved out of their home to spend some time traveling across America.

Sometimes You’re the Bug

   

Murderous windshield   

Sorry, bugs, rest in pieces   

Please pass the squeegee   

   

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Vultures

   

Stop, greedy vulture   

You are hereby limited   

To one carrion   

   

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Secure the Borders?

   

You’re lucky, white man   

That the Navajo Nation   

Shares its vast beauty   

    

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 Oversized Load

   

   

Can’t keep to your lane   

Can you, space-hogging fatso?   

Move aside, wide load   

   

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Dancing Clouds

   

Shadows cast by clouds   

Slow dance on red canyonsides   

Terra cotta waltz   

   

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Oversized Load II

   

Wide load camouflage?   

Now you see me, now you don’t?   

Explanation, please  

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Reptilian Reps

   

On warm adobe   

A lizard’s doing push-ups   

I’m not so inclined   

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All a Twitter

   

My word for the day:   

When you Tweet the same thing twice   

You “tweeiterate”   

   

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A Grave Choice

   

Turn left, or turn right?   

Either way, grave destiny   

I think I’ll go straight   

   

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How the Pelican Got its Beak

   

At its creation   

Pelican must’ve told God,   

“Put it on my bill.”   

   

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Egg McMuffin

   

Cheesy and greasy   

You’re eggs-actly what I need   

Be mine, McMuffin   

   

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English Yousage

   

The English language   

Takes abuses — south and north   

From ya’lls to youses   

   

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Directions in Maine

 

 Two lefts, six miles, right 

Ay-ah, that’s how you get from 

Hee-yah to they-yah 

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  Putting My Trust in You

  

Sexy voice … street smart   

Kind, patient … You complete me, 

GPS lady  

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Nature’s Fireworks

 

Fall’s grand finale  

Nature’s fireworks — ooooh! ahhhhh! –   

Quietly explode  

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 Airstream Dreams

 

Down a mountain road 

Luminous aluminum 

Roller toaster ride 

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Rumble Strip

 

Shivers climb my spine 

When you vibrate my behind 

I think you’re groovy 

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Bad Route Road

Exit and turn left

For the Rotten Food Diner

And No-Sleep Motel?

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Oh Golden Tamarack

Amid evergreen

Monotony, let’s hear it

For diversi-tree

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Winged Hitchhiker

Confused, Mr. Fly?

You came aboard in Carmel

You’re in Barstow now

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Don’t Call Us Trailer Trash

 

Like your roots can’t rot –

That’s how it feels, when living

In a house with wheels

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Cruise Control

Cursed cruise control

A mind-numbing way to drive

Much less live your life

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Home Again?

I wonder if home

Will be there when I get there

And, moreso, will I?

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 Some Guy Named Bud?

 

Who named the seasons?

Kudos for Spring … We wake up …

And, KABOING,  it’s here

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Willow’s Wily Ways

Flowing tresses writhe

Seductively in the wind

You don’t weep, you flirt

 

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Going in Circles

On a spinning wheel

Beasts circle, musically

Destination: Joy

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How Close Are We?

 

“Too close” to your dog:

When he completes not just you,

But your sentences

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Ode to October

If ever I’m told

I’ve only one month to live

I’ll choose October

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Crunching Leaves

Shuffling through dry leaves

 

One of life’s distinct pleasures

 

Wet ones … not so much

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Photos and poetry (if we may call it that) by John Woestendiek