A Poem Dictated Aloud While Driving Home Last Night

The car drove on its own and took me away into the night.
It was cold, it was lonely, it was nothing of a rushing flight.
The streets were empty; the wind barely blew.
The sun had long since settled, and waited for the sun anew.

Passing along the sullen quiet streets,
Begetting me and only me, I sat and wondered
How I came to find the loss of such happiness
In the gain of such misery.

And the lights of the streets, and the city, and the people
And the workers, on their break, breaking quickly, breaking simple.
And the shopping cart on the street, without the bum to retrieve
Was all I saw, and all I ever seem to see in such a bright and beautiful world before me.

And the duck crossed the street slowly,
He wouldn’t let me pass quickly.
And he was slow, and so was I,
And so was I.

The unions did not hail today,
The college did nothing.
Only one car behind me, and the car just keeps on coming.
And I stop and I go, and I stop and I go,
And it’s the same everyday.
And I wake up late and I sleep late.
And I rush and I hesitate.

And I lose and I lost.

And the price is my monthly rent, but its not the real cost.
The cost was loss of love, and love done left me good.
And the love may as well have
And the love may as well should.

And so I’ll turn my final turn
To the street where I dwell.
And I’ll brush my teeth
And I’ll find my bed,
And I’ll undress,
And I’ll lay down,
And I’ll cover up,
And I’ll look above and think of this city,
And softly think to myself how it can go to hell.