WE START THE DRIVE AT NIGHT, AND / I FORGET TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON, AND / YOU’RE SITTING THERE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, GLOWING WITH HEALTH AND HAPPINESS / LIKE YOU NEVER DID WHEN YOU WERE ALIVE / ON SECOND THOUGHTS THAT MAY BE THE ECTOPLASM / I’M STEERING WITH MY KNEES, MY HANDS OCCUPIED WITH ITCHING ONE ANOTHER / WORDS LEFT UNSAID ALWAYS GIVE ME A RASH / AND YOU’VE GOT SOMETHING TO TELL ME / BUT IT’S LIKE WE’RE UNDERWATER / AND SO ALL I HEAR IS A GLUB GLUB GLUB / LIKE A CHARMING LITTLE FISH / THE JOURNEY BEGINS WITH US WINDING THROUGH THE STREETS WHERE I GREW UP / LIKE THAT LORDE SONG / BUT DIFFERENT, CUZ YOU’RE HERE.
SOON ENOUGH AND / THE OPEN ROAD IS GAPING BEFORE US / LIKE A MAW / WITH STRINGS OF SPITTLE LIKE / METEORS / OR SOMETHING / MY HEADLIGHTS ARE ON NOW / THANKS FOR THE REMINDER / I’M TERRIFIED I’LL LOOK TO MY LEFT AND YOU’LL BE GONE / DUST IN THE WIND / OR ANOTHER SHOOTING STAR / I WILL NOT MAKE A WISH ON YOU / YOU BASTARD / MY REAR VIEW MIRROR GLINTS WITH / THE REFLECTIVE BACKS OF ROAD SIGNS / IF WE’RE EXTENDING THE METAPHOR THEN THEY’RE TEETH / ALL CROOKED N CROWDED / LIKE A GRAVEYARD OF CALCIUM.
MY MOUTH IS FULL OF WHAT IFS ABOUT YOU / CANDIES AND NUTS, AND THEY’RE CHOKING ME / TRAIL MIX CAN BE A DEADLY WEAPON, AS IT TURNS OUT / PASS US ANOTHER HANDFUL, PLEASE / I’M STILL DRIVING, OBVIOUSLY / THE ROAD STRETCHES IN FRONT OF ME / LONG AND STRAIGHT / AND THE STARS WINK DOWN.
I WISH I WAS TALLER / I’D STRETCH ALL THE WAY UP TO THE SKY / THAT IMPOSSIBLE DISTANCE / LIKE A REALLY BIG REDWOOD TREE OR / TĀNE MAHUTA / MY BRANCHES SCRAPING UP THE MOON / AND I’D GRAB YA BY THE WAIST / DRAG YOU BACK DOWN / TO BE WITH ME.
Featured image Star Party by Sarah McEneaney (2009), used with the artist’s permission.
