I would say many of us have had the experience of driving in what seems to be a time warp, where speed seems to slow to a crawl and time seems to be suspended. As can be seen I wrote this some years ago but the sensation is still familier.

*lTHE ROAD

The black ribbon of road stretches far far ahead,
Into the hazy distance, like a long long line of lead,
Pencil drawing. across the flat drawn page of the landscape
Which also finishes, at a far distant horizontal place.

Like ants the vehicles crawl along the stretched out length of road,
Cars with bursts of speed rush past semis, with their long heavy loads.
Vans and trucks slowly traverse this long empty stretch of black and green
With township buildings, appearing like a mirage in the far distant scene.

Time seems to hang in suspense, as the long miles pass slowly by
And speed slows to a seeming crawl as distance never alters to ones eye
The same flat expanse confronts the view of the driver holding the wheel
Unbroken flatness, without feature, without interest, without appeal.

Minutes seem like hours, as the road drags on and on,
Nothing breaks the monotony of the motors unchanged song
Its roar ongoing. as the road passes underneath the wheels
Of the vehicle, locked in a warp of time, as distance disappears.

After what seems an eternity a familiar landmark marks its space.
And time, like a rubber band, snaps backs quickly into place.
The weary driver stretches, yawns and with a sigh.
Returns to life, the weary miles behind him well passed by.
JW 6/93