Tonight I Must Write

Tonight I must write-

The road is long

And the sights are many.

In the dark distance

Ruby tail-lights flash,

Threatening to block my right of free passage.

I quicken-

I must go home before curfew

And so I rush.

In the darkness, I don't slow down

To see the chopstick end of our fine-dining,

The tree below which we sat,

Or the road safety board at which I said

"Slow down sweetheart, the speed limit is 50".

I crouch angrily and the accelerator makes a feline growl.

All the time, I think of how I'm not thinking of you.

Somewhere ahead, green turns orange

And in a split second, I break a rule-

Not knowing where to stop

Not thinking about you.