Nightmare

Have you taken the nighttime ride 
into the unknown, first cruising 
smoothly past family faces, 
languishing in childhood forests,
slowing for your favorite tricycle.

Have you taken the nighttime ride,
suddenly speeding out of control, 
steering gone, brakes failing, 
careening around the terrifying 
sharp corners of your despair.

Have you taken the nighttime ride,
sideswiping the death of your father, 
swerving around your suffering children; 
whose dreadful cries drown the din 
of your squealing tires.

Have you taken the nighttime ride,
hurtling toward a deadly precipice,
glimpsing salvation racing past 
just beyond the reach of your 
outstretched hand.

Have you taken that nighttime ride,
finally a hard yellow lurching 
into morning, crashing awake, 
headlights shining everywhere, 
the room bursting with clarity. 

Published in Tigershark, October 2019