In my Wednesday Writing Workshop one week, we were each asked to select an envelope from the center of the table and instructed not to open it. A few words were scribbled on the front of each envelope. Everyone’s was different. Our instructions: Write a poem, using these words as either the title or the first line. What we didn’t know was that inside our envelopes was a published poem beginning with those same words. We got to read those after we’d written and shared our own work. We only get about five or ten minutes for these little projects. My line was, “Are you going my way?”

Stopping for a Hitchhiker

Are you going my way?
I don’t know where—
we’re adventure bound,
me and my pick-up truck.
Hop on that thar pile of hay.

Are you going my way?
We’ll stop where we choose,
where the wild wind calls
where we’ve never set foot.
Naw, don’t want your pay.

Are you going my way?
We’ll have us a time!
Wonder what’s out there
beyond the beyond.
Come on, go my way.

(Photo attribution: “File:Ramla-trucks-and-transportation-museum-Autocar-2c.jpg” by Bukvoed is licensed under CC BY 4.0)