The Ballad of the Road

By Coni Heinemann

Drive 

I ride the great asphalt serpent that swallows the horizon 

Drive 

The miles break me down

The skin flakes from my flesh 

The flesh boils from my bones 

The bones crumble away 

All that’s left

Titanium

Drive

A piece of my humanity gets off each exit we pass 

Do I remember the smell of rain?

The warmth of a Sunray through an open window?

Do I remember joy 

Or rage 

Or melancholy 

No 

Drive

I remember the road 

The steering wheel held steady 

The accelerator down

I remember my purpose 

I remember drive 

Drive 

I no longer dream 

Ache for the world beyond 

I see only the serpents head just over the edge of the world 

Drive 

I will not see the end

Revel in the destination 

My place is here 

I am RoboDriver 

I drive