Are We There Yet

Lock unlock tick tock click click.

Window up down drip drop.

Freezing flair then warming air.

Up down onto Hill Country winding roads,

Must keep awake going to Austin.

Are we there yet?

As Lamesa 87 moves into Big Spring storms

Lightning rolling across eleven o’clock dark sky

That makes daylight flash in streaks before your eyes.

As rain falls to deluge sheets upon a pickup truck.

Lock unlock tick tock click click.

Window up down drip drop.

Outside freezing affair then inside warming flair.

Poet passenger windows up down trip to Austin.

Are we there yet?

As wind turbine churn around the lightning.

How far is it to San Angelo?

As the distance winds down mile posts.

Must remember to take the bypass

To stop the stop and go slow city traffic lights.

One does not fool with San Angelo city speed limits.

Left right front and back checking in rain for police.

75 to 70 to 65 to 50 to 45 then 35 speed drops,

To brake into those Texas 87 midnight cities.

Are we there yet?

As lightning falls behind to dry roadways,

As this click click drives you crazy,

What in the hell is ticking away?

Damn sounds like the doors - locking unlocking.

Ask a passenger are you click clicking the doors.

Tired poet said he was opening the windows.

As soon the up down wind flowed in fresh air

That chilled the bones into cold shivers.

Past Sterling onward onward to San Angelo

Must remember that bypass.

Are we there yet?

Up and down side to side turns onto San Angelo.

Bypass in sight as a downpour floods wiper sight.

Yes, we are in San Angelo doing the speed limit.

Are we in Brady yet?

Up down windows then floods a passenger awake.

So the window stays up for a short while.

Onward onward down Texas 87, we travel.

Are we there yet?

Downward upward warm then frigid cold.

One sweats then freezes going down Texas 87.

That soon one side melts and the other freezes over

Up down beside to side road line markers.

Click click the doors again find the poet fingers.

As a poet recites in some unknown language

As the driver needs this half coat and half shirt attire.

Rain long gone a passenger poet murmurs aloud.

Are we there yet?

As we reach Brady city limits.

Make a right here a poet shouts loud

I say too soon.

As the GPS woman says make a right

At the very next intersection.

Sorry I was wrong

Down and up goes the window.

As he murmurs something

As Texas 87 turns to Hill Country 71.

Are we there yet?

I remember how glad he was to get out of Eden.

Saying are we through Eden yet?

Seems this Eden had razor wire upon razor wire.

Must admit I did not want to be inside with a number.

Click click you have the lock unlock button again.

Up down we move down Texas 71 onto Austin.

Are we there yet?

Brings on the longest five miles into Llano.

That every mile seemed like 100 yards minute.

10 to 5 to 4.6 to 4 to 3.7 to 3 to 2 to 1.5

to 1 .9 .8 .5 .3 .2 .1 Bingo Llano

How long to Austin?

Becomes closer and closer

A down up window

As Bee Cave passes

Onto Sunset Valley into Austin.

Yes poet we are in Austin proper.

Are we home yet?

Yes, poet, we are finally home.

Now please, leave the window up,

And lock the door.

David Lester Young 04/17/16