It's the middle of the Night,
I wake with a great Fright.

I must drive Home,
Then I won't be so Alone.

I pack up a Bag,
For not a moment do I Lag.

I started to Drive,
At sunset I would Arrive.

The snow was coming Down,
It was white out all Around.

Driving faster and Faster,
I'd regret it all After.

Snow had covered the Ice,
Driving was a gamble, and I tossed the Dice,

Sliding along the Road,
My mind a heavy Lode.

Cutting over in front of Me,
The semi I almost did not See.

My foot heavy on the Brake,
My whole body began to Shake.

My life flashing before my Eyes,
No one ever heard my Cries.

Sliding, black ice, holding on with all my Might,
I spun through the air that horrid winter Night

Crashing down in a Ditch,
I cried, I shook, I felt my heart Twitch.

I looked up in front of Me,
A small white cross I could See.
Why God would You save Me?

Not a scratch, or a bruise, at least nothing that was New,
I was so scared, I had no idea what to Do.

There was smoke I could Smell,
At least I thought I could Tell,

I took the key Out,
There was no getting free, of that I had no Doubt.

It seemed like forever I sat in the Dark,
Waiting to see a single Spark.

I turned the engine back On,
The road I attempted to drive back Upon.

I don't know how I drove back Up,
To pull me out I assumed I'd need a Pickup.

Back on the road I began to Cry,
This was so stupid, why did I even Try?

Turning around I began my slow journey Back,
The night was dark, cold, and Black.

Tomorrow again I'd Go,
Perhaps then they will have cleared the Snow.

Then maybe I can make it Home,
With my family I am never Alone.

On this cold winter night I thank you God,
You saved my life, Your strength I Applaud.

Bare skeletons cast their shadows
from your temporary closets, and bruise
your casual grins with their bleached-bone fists.
You left
here this morning with a carry-on
just to find three bags checked in your name.


Someday your luggage will know
continents, leaving trails
of letters, love songs and photographs.
You will not see these places,
these ancient beauties,
like she did, through the dust
of your travels
beaten grey from army green foot lockers.


Little white tags crumble dates
and loneliness into your sheets.
Your smiles come slower; your tendons ache
in their restless sleeps.
The years of calloused fingers
fumbling latches in the dark
leave your nails jagged
and ******.


But you carry her voice in your suitcase always
knowing her weight would sink into your bones.

You've taken away my vice
The therapy that kept my heart beating
With every beat of the drum or harmony of singing
That healed me completely with every note
No more can I sit and listen to tunes
Losing myself in the words
Escaping my pain and the thoughts that made my head feel like it would explode  
I can be alone no more
The music washing over me
Calming my soul
Giving me the will to be
Myself and not worry about anyone else
But now you invade every song
Going through my playlist
Skimming over my favorites
Your name jumping to the front of my brain as every beat hits
Suddenly I understand all of the lyrics
I sang countless times before
I can relate
To every verse and every chord
Singing of perfect days and the pain of letting you go
Not sure what I'll do
But for now I know
You've ruined music for me