I turn the ignition, foot to the pedal and shift into gear in a remote
country lane and they say suicides are happening all over the place
and I wonder why they don’t happen more often
I ease the car round the bend when I see this guy heavy built a double chin
not fit for youth and carrying an old man way of walking
as if he stepped into his father’s shoes too soon He has a shotgun cocked open and set
for pheasant hunting having landed all out of context with the times and the clouds
are churning low on the earth Looming on the radio is another mass shooting
today it’s Norway What stops him locking that barrel in place and taking me out
I slow as I near and he nods before I hit the highway with its oncoming cars whirling past
and only a thin line painted between us a few unstable feet
and all it would take is a twist of the wheel to burn a hole in existence
you stay on your side and I’ll stay on mine our grip on life so tight
white knuckled on the wheel
The Agreement
Issue 22, Volume 2: Summer 2012