easy riders

it might have

taken us six hours to hitch hike

a ride

to Ocean City,

normally a three-hour drive.

our sleeping bags

rolled

up, tied

to our backs with

rope. we had

a few dollars in our

pockets.

our long hair down

to our shoulders,

held back

with red, white and blue bandanas.

we had a sign, which said

O.C, will pay for gas.

three days

later,

sunburned and tired,

hungry.

having no luck with the rich

college girls

on the beach from Salisbury State,

we packed up

and headed home.

we were

exhausted from asking

for spare change

on the boardwalk, our sandals

broken and worn.

our cutoff jeans still wet

from the ocean.

at last, after three or four rides,

with thumbs out,

exhausting our money,

we were thankful to be home.

back to our beds,

to our mothers who

put sandwiches and cold

milk before us.

a plate of cookies, still warm.