everything is not what it seems

behind the front wheel
there's so much more
to feel
looking for the easy road
while carrying a curiously heavy load
talking to my best friend
about the disturbing daily news
now asking her to choose
which way to turn
or stay straight?
we don't want to arrive too late!
there's a dangerous hurricane
and biting rain
flooding the center strip field
i can't see beyond the speeding windshield
it's a quarter past four
and an angry petroleum war
on the horizon sinks the ocean floor
all the children slipping off to bed
to read what the green meanies once said
before they packed to leave!
oh, the air is hard to breathe
and our eyes grow sore
it's a quarter past four
i ask her to read some more
heading west or is it east
into the prairie or the belly of the beast?
heading north or is it south
into the highlands or is it the monster's mouth?
the tires are rolling past my hometown
speeding up and slowing down
page three and page five
when the sun sets we're barely alive
each city full of fading lights and whispered dreams:
everything is not what it seems.
it's a quarter past four
playing music on the  hotel room floor
classical and rock
she teased my hair
i removed her sock
it's a quarter past four
when i shut the door.