Teardropp Memories 7.17.2008 Poem by Margaret Alice

A spaceship travelling between planets, a long, lonely
trip, having visited beautiful places, remembering the
teardrop-sweet wonder of wandering down memory
lane; now facing the square, bitter taste of traffic con-
gested, unsure which lane to choose; swerving embar-
rassingly between trucks and fast-moving vehicles, not
understanding the difference between the R12 and N1
or why the N3 is neither left nor right; but right in the
middle; talking on the cell-phone, asking directions, a
kind driver having a heart attack, ignoring invitation
to escape into the left lane; can’t think straight, can’t
choose at all, stopping on yellow stripes; calling again -

A garage attendant issuing instructions - turn left into
the R12; sister says turn off at Atlas, industrial grey area,
trucks pressing from all sides; an endless road, menacing
direction boards, calling again – where to turn - keep straight,
don’t turn away – suddenly turning grows into a desire too
compelling to refuse; finally directions to turn left –I turn –
left again – but my steering wheel turned right already,
beneath the subway, feeling the presence of an undefined
menace - stopping the car – I’m lost – where are you - don’t
know, nothing seems right, all slanting away – you should
have turned left and left yet again, stay there, I’m coming
to get you; she comes, silver helmet on red Scooter

She ahead, me following; shaking with fatigue – arriving
safely, teardrop-sweet memories safely stowed away,
never to be lost in eternity...