Saturday, April 25, 2015

Big, Black Hat

Just a description 
Of the biggest flipping cloud
I've ever seen 
Sitting up on top of the mountains 
Looking like a big, black hat 

I'm from Southern California 
It 
Doesn't DO that !

And it rained
So hard -
The big truck I was going 
To pass 
Just moments before
Became a beacon
In the storm 
Hunched over my steering wheel
Windshield wipers as high
As they would go 
I followed those tail lights 
Through the storm 

Looking to the west a moment 
Later -
 there was light !

Looking to the mountain I was 
Going to cross -
It was black !

The sky 
Was 
So black 
And that pass is 
So high 
Tricky to drive 
At the best of times
- the rocks that would 
Come down - 
The lightening that might hit
Me!
And my little 
Car!

I looked up and some 
Part of me said no 
Really - 
     No !
Even though it would add hours 
To the trip 
-Already all day -
We turn around 
We drive toward the light 
We drive out of this 
Storm 

The valley is long 
And beautiful
Cutting through 
Canyons 
With hills all around 
Really beautiful !
Why haven't I been 
This way before - ?
Hills and ranches 
And trucks snaking along 
A gently winding 
two lane road 

Thank God I got gas !

When finally I find the 
Freeway
(I'll be home in a few more hours)
I'll never forget 
How good the smooth pavement 
Felt 
Beneath the wheels of my
Truck 
Just enough daylight left 
To see the beautiful hills and 
Valleys 

Home by 
Night -
Sunset in the 
Rear view mirror.