Green Lights

Rain falls from the sky above.

Two lonesome headlights

illuminate the dark night.

Raindrops slide down

the outside of my window.

Nothing but green lights

ahead. No need to press

the breaks. It’s my time

I’ll take. I look around –

not a car in sight.

Nights like this create

a feeling of necessary healing.

Lost in thought with no place

to go – my home is the open road.

Enthralled by the mysterious

future that awaits,

I push on toward

a destination unknown.

I fixate my gaze on the life

existing on the other side

of my windshield.

Before I know it,

I am miles away

from memory lane  –

where I once lived.

I drive past a car

that looked just like mine.

It suddenly vanished

into the night.

Am I seeing things?

The driver looked so familiar.

I pull off to the side

and see my younger self

in the rearview mirror

waving goodbye.

I put my car in drive

and travel further away

from distant memories.

I keep my eyes on

the road but can’t help

to look back and see

how things used to be –

how I use to be:

a young boy climbing

trees and collecting leaves.

I switch lanes without using

my blinker. What’s the use?

I’m the only one here.

I can travel at any speed I like.

I white knuckle

the steering wheel.

The further I drive –

the more I think about

how time has eluded me:

wishing that it could freeze.

I look to the passenger seat;

I smile because I remember

each person who sat

in that seat and joined

me along the way.

The days I drive alone help

me understand love

once shown. I haven’t seen

a stop sign in miles.

In every town,

each stop light was green.

Nothing is stopping me

from picking up the pace,

but life isn’t a race.

I will take it slow.

I want to cherish every moment

and acknowledged the world

waiting to be seen.

Although the light is green,

I stop to take it all in.

I cut the engine and enjoy the

silence. I take a deep breath

before I use the gas that’s left.

I will drive until

my car breaks down.

Until then, I hope to cross your path.

I hope to finish the race

with you by my side.

I hope look back and know I tried.