“like a river that don’t know where it’s flowing
I took a wrong turn and I just kept going”
— b springsteen

somewhere in
pennsylvania
there’s a narrow road
that forks and
a sign that explains
where each branch goes:

one arrow pointing
right says “WEST.”
the other pointing
left says “SOUTH.”

i got there the other day
and i went north.
though where i was going
was everywhere i’d been
i couldn’t help going.
the radio
was no help —
same old verses, same
old themes,
same old / young pop stars. there hasn’t been
a moving song on the radio
in how many years?

as many years as i’ve been bored with driving.

i’d always hoped that someday
i’d be able to recall
the time i drove
down a road i’d never seen.
instead
i see
the same curbs
and the same
signs telling me things
I don’t even need to read anymore
to understand
because i am always headed home.

next time
i’m in pennsylvania
i will turn off the radio
before i get to that sign.

i will plow through it.
i will knock it down
and then i’m going east
until there’s no east left.