Encounter

ENCOUNTER

Even without the unblinking stare

in your rearview since you can recall,

what with all the what's-one-mores

and corner stores, keeping it between the lines

is hard enough. But now he taps on your window.

All stills. You cut the transmission.

He calmly demands total submission 

on the shoulder, extracting you 

from the driver’s seat on the firm grip

of a question. There’s no question

of rescue. It’s just him and you

now, face to face. He blinds you

with his light and calls you by name

across the narrow and straight.

You feel like you’re walking on water.

You spill everything. Making it home

will take another miracle, even

a final confiscation of the keys.

No, sir, you're not fine. Follow me.