Ramblin’ Man

Child of the 70’s I am
probably a
half-a-decade behind that
musically
favoring the 60’s

Not much into the Allmans
though lots of friends
certainly were

rearview-mirroring my peers
I get it now
because I lived it then

Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man
Tryin’ to make a livin’ and doin’ the best I can
And when it’s time for leavin’
I hope you’ll understand
That I was born a ramblin’ man

Moving from Minnesota to Colorado
at age ten
only a prelude

trekking back and forth every summer
solo
via classic
Greyhound Sceni-Cruisers

Within a week of high school graduation
I was back on the bus
back to Minneapolis, broadcasting school
kickstarting a career in small towns

Missouri, Iowa
back to Minnesota for wide-ranging
travelogue
multiple towns, call letters
a true radio vagabond

Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man
Tryin’ to make a livin’ and doin’ the best I can

genetically predisposed, I suppose
descended from
seafaring Vikings and diaspora Jews

My radio days ended, but not my nomadic
approach to the universe
Minneapolis, rural Minnesota again

ten years in New Orleans
as a high school teacher, no less

now back in the urban Midwest
tethered by roots seen
and unnoticed
here to stay, until I’m not

And when it’s time for leavin’
I hope you’ll understand

That I was born a ramblin’ man

Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man
Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man
Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man

Annnnnd…
fade.

– Mark L. Lucker
© 2019
http://lrd.to/sxh9jntSbd

5 thoughts on “Ramblin’ Man

  1. Like your story flow, and inclusion of “ramblin’ man” lyric. Stylistically, some prepositions and articles extraneous to flow in some of the writing, t hmmm ought perhaps you like the effect in this and other of your poems?
    e.g.:Child of the 70’s I am
    probably a (I might omit “a”)
    half-a-decade behind that (might omit “that”)
    musically
    favoring the 60’s
    Don’t want to trample style, though… just an observation

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