Here We Are

Here...
we...
are...

Out here...me and...me...

i look over and no one is there,
Not that that's anything different.

The miles keep passing by:
A red light here,
A stop sign there,
Up hill,
downtown

through rainstorms
and sunsets
and sunsets
and sunsets
and grey cloudy overcast misty days

i've lost track of where i am
and where i'm going
but i know i don't want to go back
at least there's that.

But i'm on auto-pilot...
(figuratively)

The windows are down
The music is up
my voice keeps me company
at least when there are words.

my fingers drum the beat of a million miles on the steering wheel,
held straight.

And no one is here
Empty wrappers on the floor

This isn't what i expected
when i set out this way.

Where am i anyway?

Every town looks the same
Quiet, dusty, blinds drawn shut and barely a whisper of a voice
        of a dream long floated away
        carried away by the smallest of breezes...

The highway took it all away, they say
Four lanes of hustle and bustle and impatience
flying at the speed of sound
in a hurry to get everywhere
but never really getting anywhere

and i'm in their way...

i can't keep up.
Not sure if i really want to, anyway.

i look over for agreement
or even acknowledgement
and the window just stares back at me
expressionless
trees rushing by...

...sigh...

Up ahead - a hitchhiker,
i stop;
i have to;
Standing in the middle of the road.
Thumb out,
not up,
not down,
just out.
It's pouring rain.
"Get in. Where ya headed?"
"I don't really know."

And so we go.

Windshield wipers flailing
furiously
not really keeping up

we sit in silence
concentrating
Together but Alone
Alone but Together
i'm driving on blindly
(almost literally)
on instinct
inching along...

and then -

flashing lights.

ROAD CLOSED

HIGH WATER

so we sit.

The hitchhiker starts talking.

The rain and their words and their tears start pouring
The thunder and their sobs and their screams start pounding
It's relentless and it's relentless
seemingly for days

we're out here on this island
isolated
Ending idling
i've lost track of time
      And i listen
And i listen
And i listen
And you're no longer there.

Gone.

i imagined the whole thing
as the rain slows to a light drizzle
and then
two drops
then one
then

nothing.

i've stopped
The air is still
Steam rises from the pavement
It's like i'm in a trance
a fog

and, so

here...
we...
are...

        somewhere...me and...me...