Rolling the Road
By Dudley Laufman
Back in them days
they didn’t plow the roads
they rolled em
packed the roads
so the sleighs would have a smooth surface.
Big heavy cement drums
or oak barrels filled w/ rocks
rotating on an axel
with a seat for two
perched above it all
pulled by a team of draft hosses.
Roy and Zeke ran the thing
for the town here.
They got in the habit of
stopping at each farm on the way
for a nip of something
usually rum or hot buttered in season.
They also kept a bottle
of black rum under the seat
had a nipple on it
and they would sip from that
time to time.
So anyway they’re out on the job
big storm winding down
‘n they’ve made several stops.
Going down that steep hill
beyond McClure’s there,
Roy nods off.
Zeke is only half awake himself.
Roy tumbles forward right off the seat
and down and under the roller.
Well the snow is soft
and the roller pushes him under.
He comes to a few seconds later
gets up, shakes himself off
says Jesus that was refreshing
trots off after the roller
hollers Hey Zeke
who turns around says
Oh there you are
I though I might have left you at McClures
get up here time for a nip.