The Friday Influence

As we made our way from O to O – Oregon to Ohio – I found myself writing little lyrics along the way.  I also wrote snippets of our conversation, bits that made me laugh or that meant something to me.

I consider it a sort of travel journal/daybook – one strictly written in the car, with all the randomness and fleeting nature of things passing by a car window, blurring and fascinating.  Keeping these in the car helped shape their brevity.

Today is the last day of the journey.  Expect the usual Influence biz next week.

For now, enjoy my own narrow road from a narrow interior.

***

DAY 1: Eugene OR to Spokane WA

shadow of a cloud
over the yellow grass – the
first time she’s noticed

–

“The clouds look painted on —

(in cloud voice)
You guys, they noticed.
I told you they’d notice.
You can’t just put on falsies!”

–

outside of Fishtrap
clouds in their schools of shade and
light over the trees

–

DAY 2: Spokane WA to Bozeman MT

snow on the mountains
in Montana – river sounds
cold against my ear

–

Coeur D’alene River
breaking as we pass – she asks:
why do rivers wind?

–

(me)
“I hope we’re not headed towards those clouds.”

(ani)
“Where do you think we’re headed?  Behind us?”

–

DAY 3: Bozeman MT to Dickinson ND

(ani)
“I’m so tired of driving into the sky.”

–

cows dip their heads
into the grass
and move their mouths
eating under
through all these clouds

–

looking down into
the Badlands
we laugh into
knuckle-white
clouds

–

DAY 4: Dickinson ND to Eden Prairie MN

Minnesota lakes
on the side of the highway
the sky’s loose pages

–

pelican alone
on the water – a white that
dives into itself

–

miles after leaving
North Dakota the red dust
streaked across the car

–

DAY 5 Eden Prairie MN to Itasca IL

morning fog on the
Mississippi River – map
trembles in my hand

–

rain dots the windshield
the colors of passing cars
under a gray sky

*

See you in Cincy!

Jose