The longest ride home

Once you elope the code back inn changes

The mornings were always warm, filled with all the birds’ songs

All the hills I was able to climb, no matter how high, how rough

The lyrics never forgotten, I sang even when awaken from sleep

The smile never fading, even when the front teeth fell

The hands always stretching, assuming all the strength

The feet never dragging, even when the floor was slippery

The surroundings always memorable, even when the trees weren't green

But as soon as I eloped, all the shattering started

 

The steps hard to take,even when it’s a flat tamarack road

The turns always scary, regardless of the speed on take off

The lights all blinking with full power supply

The hands and feet shaking, even on a genuine hug offer

The eyes always twitching, the bad sign they suggest

The bones are constantly cracking, even with calcium added diet

The breath short and labored, like running a marathon without practice

Little rub feel like painful scratch, coming from an angry step mother

I am trying to remember my way back home, like a demented grand mother

 

Am always looking for a jumper cable, even when the battery feels new

The starter always burning, am tired of searching at the junk yard 

The tires bursting open, the wheels running backwards

The slowest speed movement ever, every driver honking and flipping

The freeway seems crowded and I always miss the exits 

The GPS stating you the usual, I only have few miles left 

And boom  after one minute the GPS is recalculating

I  have lost my track i think, and only to realise there is no gas station

I wish I can keep driving on the dark road with water filled oil tank

I might probably see a stop sign and the house am searching this long 

It is the long ride home with the lost codes and signals.

By Antonia Komba