Strata

I went back to the highway this morning to see the newly laid pavement.

(Really, I just had to cross the road on my way to get an early

morning latte.) As usual, I was struck by the textures carved into

the old pavement by the concrete saws and grading equipment, and

the differing colors between the old layers of cement and asphalt.

Here looking like a sun flare, the tarry adhesive has been splashed

onto the retaining wall. Centuries from now, if the warring human species 

survives its own stupidity, archaeologists will be spinning in their

pith helmets trying to figure out the drink cups, water bottles,

and beer cans thrown into the site by workers and

passers-by. But what about the rocks? Will it matter that the material

used to make the roadbed has come from a different place

than where it was found? Will they confuse the sometimes

beautiful textures for art (as I do)? 

Eh, they won't give a fuck.