The Open Road

On the highway, trapped

A semi in front of me

That driver’s oblivious,

My car he can’t see.

I need to be somewhere

I look for a way out

The left lane filled with cars.

I can’t move out.

He doesn’t know that I’m here.

At least, he doesn’t know I’m rushed.

If only we weren’t separated

We could talk, not be hushed.

As though it is 100 miles

Between the two of us,

And so he doesn’t know

That I am in a fuss.

Wait! — I should not judge,

I do not know his goal,

I am not aware, for all I know

It might not be a troll.

He thinks he is driving fast, not slow.

Maybe his truck is flying,

barely able to keep its speed.

Maybe his pedal is on the floor,

And just like me, he is teed.

I can not see in front of him,

There may be another car

Slowing him down, down, down,

Which I can’t see because i am so far.

For all I know, his trailer holds,

Twenty-five tons of brick.

That could be the reason

He can not go so quick.

It feels that

I am a hare

To his tortoise, but I am stuck

Behind, and can not go anywhere.

But whatever is his reason,

His purpose is not to slow me.

For if he could, I am sure he would

Drive at a reasonable speed.