Plastic (Still Life)

Far beyond the plastic Jesus or Mary on the dashboard
The road wanders into infinity
While behind it slowly fades away
In the quiet and still settling
Fall leaves kicked around
By mostly bald tires.

The tangy autumn air,
Redolent with expected winter shivers
Slowly slides back over the scent
Of exhaust, oil,
And hot, overtaxed engine.

Clad in a cheap knock-off
buffalo plaid “LL Bean
Maine Hunting Shirt,”
Now thread-barren,
And carelessly maintained,
With loose buttons and mended seams,
I curse a too hot defroster.

I sing along to the lyrics
From a scratched rock CD
Coming through
Tin-sounding speakers
In my 1986 Ford pickup
And remember.

Life was supposed to be easier
When I left high school
And this tired town
And followed the road
That was laid out
And wandering into infinity
Far beyond the plastic Jesus or Mary on the dashboard.