apple valley road

the queue forms early before dawn they hurry
to find a place and wait whether in rain or sun
doesn't seem to matter we watch as they scurry
out of our way but none of them deigns to run
some dignity they have in their long line
mothers with children solitary young men
they're standing patient chatting not a single whine
comes from them though they'll queue again
and again and again if there's trouble with a paper
anything to get their documents in proper shape
and afterwards they're sober no one cuts a caper
after their long day's struggle with red tape
so we look on beyond the wires and rope
at these calm folk who're holding on to hope