it can be difficult
and lonely
confusing
staying in the lane
of the way things are
there's temptations
lots of temptations
lots of exits
with lots of different places
to eat
different that is
in terms of variety
but the same
in terms of the same stuff and
same places
exits
where the restaurants are the same
as every other exit
cause they're proven to be
what people want
or at least
good enough for most
exits
into towns
where there's coffee
and snacks
and soft drinks
and cigarettes
and toilets
and unique tourist attractions
exits
into cities
offering different novelties
and fantasies
and metaphysical nonsense
and
occasional stops
in tempting villages
to fill up
or fill out
where you're told
because you are just like
all the rest
in the ways you pick them apart
that it's all the same
you and them
so the smart thing to do
the humble thing to do
is exit
not keep driving around
that stupid circle freeway
or up and down the highway
picking them and you apart
in the dead of night
in the rain
or the snow
stuck in confounding congestion
gridlocked
with just the radio on
or off
thinking for yourself
observing for yourself
and waiting for answers
from something like the cosmos
or your own limited
capacity for arithmetic
whichever comes first
if either
knowing
dreading sometimes
they may never come
still
with will and faith
determining not to exit
except for a spell
to relieve the aching bladder or belly
cause the longer you stay
in somebody else's pit stop
the less likely
your own answers
are to come
all that driving
literally
in circles
is lonely
sometimes dreadfully monotonous
and you've gotta do it sober
or they'll take the privilege
away
and it often seems stupid
and they'll tell you you're stupid
for not seeing the flaws in yourself
the deep deep flaws
that are in you
that make you flee them
but
in your smugness
flaws so easily seen in them
but too deep in yourself
to be seen at all
you should be ashamed
of your smugness
and arrogance
they will hint
or outright say
telling you
while the rolling stone gathers no moss
in its perpetual motion
it never comes to understand itself either
so take an exit
preferably mine
and we'll wallow in our flaws
and smugness
and ignorance
together
it's far less lonely
and there's lots to read about it
instead of just driving in circles
just spinning your wheels
they say
the sensible thing to do
is exit somewhere
where there's toilets
and cigarettes
and sodas
and rest areas
for taking off loads
and gathering moss
gathering places for
meditation and prayers and chants and hymns
gathering places
for the wisest of men
present and past
to guide you
instead of yourself and the silly songs
on the radio
besides
it's such a burden
carrying the load by yourself
all those lonely days and nights
and the anxiety and frustration
of being stuck
in gridlock
exit here
for some welcomed relief
for coffee
and cigarettes
and comfort
and conversation
for
there's no point in a journey
without a destination in mind
with things to guide you
attachments to the things
everybody crowds around
politics
the occult
or the
acceptance of some metaphysical bullshit
all the stuff
of all the bumper stickers you see
as you circle around the freeway
your journey needs a destination
they say
so that you
like us
can finally slow down
you fool
but i say
i like the journey
and the songs
more than the comforts
of rallies and revivals
and though i may curse the conditions
it doesn't make me a hypocrite
for in cursing that which i embrace
i am still aware
of cherishing it more
than the alternative
and not stupid enough
to demand perfection in what i choose
wise enough
to accept
and acknowledge
the faults
sometimes graciously
other times not
because i too
often fault
and will not be shamed
into exiting
just because i fault
so i embrace the lane
of the way things are
even without knowing what it is
accepting that fault
as i accept my own
and pretty sure
at least
at the end of most exits
is where the highway ends
for those who choose it
the end of the way things are
exchanged for all the other the stuff
yes
out here it's lonely and confusing
sometimes
but there's great songs
and a bit of faith to give me comfort
sometimes
and when it gets really tough
maybe that's okay
cause the night
and the congestion
and the gridlock
only last so long
you gotta know it'll pass
you gotta weather the storm
literally
ride it all out
before you're back
rolling down the highway
back where you belong
mrobins71 