Ahead of Closures

Drops to flakes
        show the wind howls sideways
Missed my exit so mile-markers
        try to tell the tale
            --not too loud--
          I've listened
                   to the wipers' march
For 3 hours--interested
                     in just one thing...
--Not where I'm headed
--Which road I'm on
--"Is my tank dry?" or cold coffee in foam cups.

It's more a question of...
--"Are my lungs full?"
--"Is my head clear?"
Liver's ready
I can stomach one more night.

My head aches
            from the glaring headlights
Dim my brights and adjust the defrost
           feel the year bleed in
               to my bones
           I'm listening
                 to flakes on windshield
Still 3 hours more 'til sleep
                         that's just one thing...
That must be lacking
This road I'm on
Plays its hand--rest ain't in the cards tonight

Is it a matter of...
       cooling convictions?
       freezing weather?
       emtpy tank or
                   getting snowed on every night?

Slide to a halt...
           on the shoulder
           hit my hazards
           it's December
                 and it's 10 o'clock at night

Make it home
And I'll toss one back
Drop it down
To bring sirens back--
They'll sing their songs
And I'll swallow facts

Make it home
And I'll toss my map
Into the wind
Put my keyring back
Onto the peg
Where it's always sat--
         I know I'll leave.
         I can tell I'll leave again.