Song On The Radio

Originally posted 10/29/2011.  Original title, “One Stupid Song.”

4 AM.  
2 PM.
9:35 AM.
10:30 PM.

Monday. Tuesday. Saturday night.

Driving 95 north through New Jersey.  

The 405 or the PCH in the Southland.  

New England backroad, border of MA and RI,
not sure which state you’re in minute to minute.

Under full moon, Card Sound Road, FL,
flat out,
due west back through mangroves
toward US 1
and then out across the Gulf to the Keys.

Radio on,
volume down.

“What’s that?
When did this come out?
Is this the new album,
the new single, 
where the hell did this come from,
when did this drop?
Who the hell IS this?

“Turn it up, turn it up, turn it up some more —
if that is as loud as it goes,
I will be selling this car as soon as we stop — “

You smile big,
as big as the music…

We are all forgetting
(and some of us never knew)
that once upon a time
this is how it was.

I wish for you just once 
the joy of being surprised and changed
by a song on the radio.

I wish you all just once the joy
of having the usually stupid radio deliver you
from the evil of the always stupid world.
Once there were no earbuds
to make finding joy
a private revelation;
I wish you the joy of looking stupid in public
as you fall forever into the arms
of a perfect song.