The snow
covered ground
accentuated chameleon
leaves quietly hanging
from stoic branches
of proud trees piercing
chilling spaces
of the coming eve.
Above in the cold
silhouetted sky
the coming full moon
briefly peeked out
before the slow passing
of dark veiling clouds.
Below, a snaking trail
of red lights
made their slow crawl
across this winter canvas
of nature’s brush.
I exit the dragon's mouth,
still puffing smoke
after all these
purifying years;
round the corners
square as possible,
narrowly avoiding edges
where the earth
falls abruptly away
and the sea plummets
to terminal depth-
Sure, Columbus made it!
But in this new world
of terror, politically defined,
One must pause
(rethink the wet drive home)
wisely avoiding
the siren call
of neon signs-
slippery, paste voices
of abundance
and firm footing.
Night drive home
no cars behind or ahead
the day had been satisfying
victories, compromises, achievements
half hour to home
bubble of warm air and light
moving toward it in my metal bubble
toward my wife and children
watch for patches of ice
casually, not nervously
maintaining velocity and analyzing
Jim Hall's and Paul Desmond's Bewitched
which way should I go
back west past industrialized cities
to spruce-fir forests
then what? the same
need for man-made implements,
refreshments, even names
they gave the rocks and trees.
Not one thing or thought uniquely mine.
Whether I am a visitor to my life
or the actual owner, inside
the bubble of air, water, blood
that must not now slide off the road
into time.
3-17-2012 The Long Drive Home
Just to see you again was all that I wanted,the flight ,the drive,
The disposition of not knowing where I was,I don’t like,
Too much daydreaming staring out the window of this long flight,
I told you that I would see you,if even for a few short moments,
To me it was eye to eye,with many smiles that I really hope for,
Even if it was long ago,the memory last and last,
I hope to see you again ,soon,but I realize their may be a wait,
If I had one wish, it would be to see you before the sun goes down,
And one more smile before you are grown, to me your innocents prevails.
Part of the promise was to drive a long way on my way back home,
Living with you not around is difficult,which I guess I don’t mind.
Someday you may think of me, when you go see your grown up child.
I wish I would have spent more time with you,when you were around.
Giggling to myself,
Blinking slowly from a long day's work
Watching the traffic in front of me ,
The car next to us playing his radio,
I feel so light,so at ease
Weeeeeeee so tranquil,
I put on the radio on my favorite station,
Listening to the Tempo,
Swaying my body from side to side,
With my windows down.
The cool breeze runs through my hair,
Blows a strand over my face,
We're crusing on the highway at sixty,
watching the cars pass by,
What a lovely day.
Stopped by a friends place to say hi,
Gave him a hug and said goodbye,
Then again we went cruising home,
I felt at one with the universe ,
The trees,the street everything.
Weary minds, and tired bones
In the wee night hours, as the radio drones on...
When all the world seems fast asleep
Satisfaction looms .... for at last, we are almost home...
Our car appears, to drive itself
As if it knows the way by heart
And soon we've reached the edge of town
I noticed there, among the trees
One lonesome house that sheds a light
It sits beside the empty highway
This lonely stretch, I've seen before
But never has it looked so glum as now
In the great dark night,
In the blackest part of the winter's hour
that comes before the dawn:
One yellow glow upstairs:
one in the kitchen below
What takes them from their sleep?
And pondering do my worries... creep...
We do not know whether a woman's hands
Soothes a sickly brow, or comforts a child
But I say a prayer, and though I will never know,
If a life is moved easier for my words...or her worries
Grow lighter by my talk with God...
I believe it will be so.....
Late at night
a forced drive home
In the dark
they’re both alone
She lays in her bed
with thoughts of him
in her head
He stays between
yellow lines
Counting the time
until he sees her
again
On the radio
one of their songs
How he longs
to be driving
the other direction
She squeezes a bear
and holds real tight
A gift given
for these nights
She worries as time
quickly passes by
The towns drag by
but he’s home and alive
She receives his call
and breathes a sigh
They say goodnight
and their I love yous
wishing they were
by the other’s side
I tuck your hair behind your ears,
close my eyes and fall asleep.
I dream of the beach at night,
but your not there, just the stars and me.
I wake up when you move,
get out of bed and get dressed.
I kiss your head then I'm gone.
The drive home is my favorite part of the night.
Everything smells good and I'm wide awake.
I turn up all the stupid songs that play on the radio.
Get a little sad,
when I'm almost home.
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