I had been on this road for hours, two lanes, paved, somewhere in New Mexico. Felt like I’d been driving forever, looking for a place to go.

I looked ahead, all I saw was this long black line, heading toward eternity. Everything on the radio, began to sound the same so,

I turned it off, rolled my window down, stuck my hand out, like feeling life’s refrain.

The sun was bright, not too hot, pretty day really, and there was only me. On either side of the road was this never ending barbed-wire fence.

I started to pay attention to the little pieces of paper, trapped here and there, clinging to this barbed-wire fence.

I began to wonder, what message each piece of paper at one time had to say.

Perhaps an advertisement about a great deal on lawn mowers or, if one might had been a message, a plea for help, its words now faded, “I’ve been kidnapped, please, come save the day!”

I think I even saw a shirt, trapped upon this fence, so empty it looked, blowing in the wind.

This road I traveled all alone, then, it seem to become my friend, telling me things in bits and pieces, like words blowing in the wind.

Strange what a long, lonely drive can do, how it seems to take control of mind and sole. As I traveled down this long black road, I begin to think about my destination. I’ll sure be happy to get there and off this lonely road.

Once I’m there, once I reach my destination, I would find light and life, freedom from this lonely apparition.

Then it hit me, this was not a lonely drive, traveling down a dark black line. For were it not for this road, I’d never reach my destination. On the road to long, well, it can take over your imagination.

The color black, I let that play my mind, like a child might do with clay.

I happy now, I’m on this road and I will stay its course, to change direction or have hesitation, might lead me off the road and take me to that barbed-wire fence, I come to far to end up, just blowing in the wind.

Oh, there it is, just ahead, I’m finally getting close. I see a big sign that says, Welcome to Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico.

Great, that means a short rest, a bite to eat then head for home. Not far down the road is "Lordsburg, New Mexico."