The Open Road - July 23 2022

 

The Open Road

July 23 2022

The giddy feeling

of sailing down an empty lane

beside a long procession of cars

heading the opposite way.

A crush

of weekend traffic

going out to the lake,

who thought they'd made their escape

in plenty of time.

While I'm driving to town

with the road to myself

feeling absurdly smug,

glancing across

at a parking lot of idling cars,

baking in sun

spewing exhaust.

Family haulers

dusty pick-ups

dented vans,

weekend rentals and high-end sedans,

hauling boats, and tents, and squabbling kids,

cans of beer

in coolers swimming in melt.

All stuck

in the democracy of grid-lock.

While I

    —   who will spend a long weekend at work,

           enduring the city's sticky heat

           urban stink

           eternal noise   —

am determined to fully enjoy

unimpeded speed.

The freedom of the open road,

for a few miles more

at least .