NaPoWriMo2018 Day 6

http://www.napowrimo.net/  and the challenge is:

 "

"to write a poem that stretches your comfort zone with line 

breaks. That could be a poem with very long lines, or very 

short lines. Or a poem that blends the two. "

Now this is not my normal form of poetry, I usually go for a formal, traditional structure but here goes.

Night Drive

Gliding along the road at differing speeds we go

In that thoughtless semi-trance of motorway meditation

Bodies responding to sat-nav prompts, minds soothed by radio

Cocooned in our own mobile environments, auto-locomotion.

Lane ahead closed.

The wheels of the cars slow as the wheels in our brains turn

Possibilities overlaying the path we expected to take

Watching the road signs carefully, filled with the need to learn

Where we ought to be, what actions we need to make.

Diversion.

We merge into a single lane with a minimum of fuss

Relying on the over-lane displays’ god-like decree

And here he comes in the closing lane, Mister Oblivious,

He doesn’t respond to the notices he doesn’t even see.

Yep, smashed the cone

Into the work zone.

Sheep-like we bunch

Huddled together on the slip road,

Watching

Workmen converge on the mess

As we crawl on our divergent path

Reluctant to leave the show

But knowing we have to go.

Horns blare raucous imprecation

At each others inattention

Cautionary intervention

In moments of apprehension.

A chain of red

Lights ahead.

Then the diverting diversion is out of sight

And our planned path is history,

Behind us, swallowed by the night,

With our future route a mystery.

We follow the signs with increasing speed

The herd now safely driven by sheep-dogs;

Police cars making sure we heed

The messages about road hogs.

Then they peal away and the mob starts to scatter

As some race away down familiar lanes

And others follow that recorded patter
Made by electronic guiding brains.

On our ways home.