Worth knowing

The second Saturday in September      
woke me with the air singing a crispness      
around the first of the fallen leaves      
     
The ol' lady leaned in      
allowing me a cheek to kiss      
she knew by how my body bolted up      
that I was in the getting moving mood      
     
threw a blanket on the boys      
asleep down stairs      
tapped my pup who seen my shoes      
and knew the deal      
     
grabbed my cap      
two rolling papers      
and zipped my hoodie      
     
Started up the car            
and cracked the window enough      
for the big bastard next to me      
to stick out his tongue      
never happier      
than being smacked with fresh wind      
     
rolled two spliffs      
the size of a fat boy's thumbs      
and headed off to get coffee      
at The General Store      
maybe twenty miles up      
but driven on the type of roads      
that make life's light      
shine right      
     
The first spliff's lit      
where the road wraps against      
a boulder field      
left from when the glaciers      
performed plastic surgery      
on these old hills      
     
and the radio needs to be louder      
so much louder      
     
Merl Saunders and Jerry Garcia      
are discussing how best      
to knock on heavens door      
this hillside has never been more receptive      
opening her heart of open      
and reminding me on how she likes      
her curves held firm, never so sure      
as when delicate guides certainty      
     
and she loves me back      
     
spent      
by the time she is      
     
spread out along the river      
at the road that intersects      
where The General Store sits      
     
I pour the blackest cup      
that they are roasting      
and get back into the car      
deciding that the next spliff      
needs a new stretch of black stones      
to smoke up      
     
This is the road that runs with the river      
thirty miles north of where the other fuckers      
think it ends      
and where today      
I found a well worn mans redemption      
     
thought back on those that knew me      
when I was someone worth not losing      
and realized how best to thank them      
was to be someone worth knowing      
wishing them well