Road Sestina by Amanda ConlogueI drive down the road
miles of black pavement
on my way to work
I stop as lights turn red
watching the steam
rise from the hood, somewhere condensing wet
you used to make me wet
the glances you gave, on the road
they sizzled with steam
while driving, we listened to Pavement
play Summer Babe, fire flames red
our love never seemed like work
I'll spend the day at work
my hair is wet
unexpected rain, remnants of red
lipstick on my lips. Are you on the road,
tracing your steps across pavement?
watching heated blacktop steam?
I wipe the steam
from the mirror, hard work
keeping rooms clean, sweeping fall from pavement
I drop the towel to the floor, wet
wishing I could travel on distant roads
spend hours waiting for lights to turn from red
I saw red
when you left, I steamed
it's still raining on the road
again, tomorrow, I have to work
the highway will still be wet
rainbows glimmer in oil-slicked pavement
I was right about the pavement
reflecting red
in puddles on the interstate, wet
I can't see the steam
but know it's there, a hard boil at work
my eyes travel the dim ribbon road
red reflectors guide me down the road
hypnotized by pavement's dotted lines to work
wet weary sounds of tired dissapate like steam. 10/29/1998 Posted on 05/11/2003 Copyright © 2024 Amanda Conlogue
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