The Bag Lady of Maine

The Bag Lady of Route One.

The road was widened

but she never knew

her life would end

when the job was through.

She had walked Route One

along the shore

Everyone knew her

but now they learned more.

She was just the Bag Lady

with her backpack of red

Faster traffic

But now she was dead.

The truck blew by

and honked as it passed her

She was knocked over the rail

Traffic now went much faster

She was not missed

for three more days

Her routine was erratic

Each day a new phase

We expected to see her

on Sunday mornings in Fall

At 7:21

She would walk past Whitehall.

The plan was to expand

Route One to be...wider

Cutting the ancient tree down

and most things beside her.

But the tree was her safe place

as the traffic flew by

When it was cut down

She had no place to hide.

The funeral was small

the service was brief

Just a few of the locals

Stopped by to share grief

They barely knew her

But the minister did

and he shared her sad story

and told of her kid

She had a full and rich life

along the midcoast

With a husband and son

who loved her the most.

They walked Route One together

from the beach to the town.

Laughing and joking

Until the car cut them down

She lived but they died

Now she will not ride in a car

She walks by herself

Miles do not seem that far

When your lonely and alone

There is not much to say

So she kept to herself

and she died the same way.

Why widen a road

that is scenic and rare?

It will not be safer

with shoulders so bare.

Lets re-think this plan

and let everyone know

that wider is not better

and its better to go slow.

FTC

10/21/17

Lincolnville Beach