The Long Way Around

The exit sign blurred past in a flash of green,

and I knew the moment the tires stayed straight

that I’d missed the slot, the gap in the scene,

and traded the bed for a much longer wait.

The dashboard clock is a pale, steady glow,

ticking through miles that I didn't intend.

There’s a comfort in moving when you already know

you’re chasing a road that refuses to bend.

I could have flipped around at the gravel pit,

or braked in the grass where the shoulder is wide,

but I’d rather keep driving and just sit with it,

letting the error take me out for a ride.