IN MY PLACE by COLDPLAY Poem by Brian A Salmons

 

 

Holding my breath

 

Osceola County, Florida, Summer 2002

 

Northbound on the turnpike

across vague acres

at evening’s beginning.

 

The green-eyed passenger ignores me

hurt and angry by some shit

I said or didn’t.

I could’ve done better

for her

but what matters more

just then

to me—

the immense roll cloud

its quiet distance

overwhelming the one between us.

 

Wipers off, I know

we’ll make the plunge

soon enough.

 

The terrible, jealous Buddha

will rake shame

and love

and leave

eventually.

And I know

I’ll drive this turnpike again

an open jewel box

in the passenger seat

and brown eyes in my thoughts

undenied and spotlit.

 

StereoStory#693