Inspired by my past middle of the night drives back home after working with a small carnival for the summer. My boyfriend would call me or send me messages during my long nightly drives to keep me awake. Sometimes I'd pull over and go to sleep, but would have to wake up and drive again to make it to my "regular" job :o)

The road was getting blurry and the road grew darkly dim.
Cars disappearing into the darkness, into some great now and when.
Yellow lines melting and the shoulder looking more like a bed...
Tired driver after midnight...only thoughts of home within her head.

She caught herself drifting to the left a couple of times
and realized she was slowing as though she was mesmerized.
The car felt like a weapon and she knew the trigger was ready...
but the thoughts of home so lured her...daydreams quick and steady.

Her phone ran just in time to keep her safe within her lane
and she heard a voice that loved her so...what perfect time came.
That he was on the other end guiding her safely to her home.
She found renewed energy just knowing that she wasn't alone.

The trip was long and longer yet as the empty miles rolled before
the dusty hood of that blue car...Please Lord, just a few miles more...
She felt herself slipping again into night's everlasting keep...
Just at that precise moment, her cell phone made a beep.

It was a text message encouraging, "Love you, let me know when you're there"
and it was signed by that same voice that had earlier been there.
She fumbled at the buttons and replied "OK - and love you too"
the miles went by one by one, but her life's miles were but few.

She didn't want to wake him and sent one final text message to that voice
that carried her the miles and had loved her by his own choice.
Twenty more miles till she'd make it home - but she'd reply right now
"I've made it home safe and sound - you're the reason how"

He had guided her this journey and kept her safe on course
and when those final hours found her, she held onto no remorse.
He promised to be there when she needed someone the most.
Life had been restored within a soul discarded as a forgotten ghost.

A few days passed, no word from her - he began to fret.
A storm had passed, cell towers down...not a signal he could get.
The news passed through the old grapevine about a car on highway nine
that drifted off the side of the road, its young driver asleep one last time.

She never made it to her home that night...she had cared too much
to awaken anyone when she felt lulled to sleep in night's cold hush.
It could not be, she couldn't be gone...his heart broke in mid leap.
Just at that precise moment, his cell hone made a beep.

A message delivered all too late, but finally made it through...
Chills shot through him rapidly, the world changed to haunted hues.
What timing it was to receive that message....time perfect with this now...
"I've made it Home safe and sound - you're the reason how."

ŠJuly 16, 2006 Lori S. Maynard "The Carnival Poet"