nowhere fast

there is an endless stream of

bright bulbs lit up like a string

red and white on dark asphalt

starting

and

stopping

going

and

braking

everyone in a rush to get nowhere

and fuming in their little boxes because

of how long it is taking them to get there

at the head of the neon snake is a mangled mess

of aluminum and steaming motor oil

bleeding out on the pavement

they peer out the windows of their wheeled boxes

as they pass

on their own way

hoping to catch a glimpse

to put a face to

the one that

inconvenienced

them so much

they think to themselves as they roll by

poor guy

and turn their radios back up listening to commercials

as they go nowhere