Interstate Genesis 19:1-26
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traffic closed around them as a calender;
  the light was ignored, broken up and seeded
      across the dash.
resembling the map, open in her lap,
  the fold, the crease of road and shadow,
 ignored. their circles are evident,
his jaw set against the day.
     shes said they are lost, in his sureness
he hasnt heard, just around this next turn
 he thinks, but she has said they are lost, and 
    it was waved away, thrown from his choices
    with a hand. it's open and shut, the idea,
she recognizes that yes this is a road,
  there are these choices,
 she also remembers saying the word lost.

                               *
turning.
   knowing that home is something breathing,  
 she's feeding it again.
the dry wind of fleeing, her tongue
  bitten and counting down.
slightly behind her husband, in shape,
  both daughters side by side.
the light: full of fear as heaven
          inches toward
            what they are inching from.
  and she is turning.
     
                             *
      just the word.
  with its painted face and dressed
in perception she forced it into context,
  a castaway truth beneath the surface of this city.
  he knows the way is coming,
       he is sure.
    she is as well.
staring at the moment,
   staring through the window,

                             *
was it for the turning you being rained down
   upon?
       disobedience? but the knowing of what
that love if for, the things and places
    one shapes with worry, what you have
kept so clean. ready and open for the everyday.
  ..what is gathering above your country,
  unwelcomed. haunting where you have welcomed
 the angels and sinners of these devoted times.
   footsteps slowing. stopping.

                             *
tears falling on this the blueprint of direction,
  patternless, impacting the grey with 
what exists only it its summary
  hes driving slightly faster now, concerned,
pulling the end that much closer,
  asking  what is wrong, almost, we are
  so close.
                  and she has said lost
have you forgotten, she knows the lies have
gone underground to chose their own battles
   and no their is no hatred,
        no anger towards or from, 
you know when something will never try again.
    lost.
            he says just a little longer.
 she asks what are you talking about?

                           *
left heel, pivoting. her eyes on the backs of
  her family. begging for understanding.

                           *
he gestures at the way.
     shes covered her mouth with the compass.
 
                           *
scanning the open gate, the walls, now there
  the window. she knows the coolness of evening
    just settling down. the spires and market
becoming transparent. she  has  turned.

                           *
   you see. i told you, we're here,
         this is done.
     yes   she says.

                           *
please.       where the heart is.
 
                           *
she has swallowed. it is over.

                           *
   still. so still. still staring,
 i cannot believe it was your eyes that damned you.

                           *
                   lost.
       
                           *
and the book doesn't even give your name.