Driving with Ezekiel

Awoke at 4 this morning with purrs rumbling up from my lap and thunder rumbling down the street. Lightening was climbing from the earth to the sky. The storm system had taken a leisurely stroll across western Oklahoma. It spent most of its energy in Weatherford and Watonga, which are considerable distance from here. But the lightening was still fairly strong. Sounded like wheels of fire whirling through the pre-dawn morning.

Some go down to the sea in great ships. Some cover themselves with darkness. Some drive cyber roads in lonely confusion. Some do not know why they dance. Some sleep under bridges. Some squander their dreamsfor a handful of misery. Some have forgotten their name.

I have so many names. I will remember at least one. I'm riding in a convertible with Ezekiel. We're watching fireworks rise over Colorado. We're watching owls rise from the ashes. We're going east, young man. We've forgotten all about Barstow, and the Angels of Vengence.

Ezekiel is talking a blue streak, trying to keep me awake. We pass shopping malls, multiplexes. One town the carbon copy of the last. Ezekiel is wondering whether the melting pot has fractured or been reducedto dross.

Then we come to Ardmore. Charming town square. Canon in the courtyard. Okie gothic court house. Like stepping back in time. Sure it's the same same for about a mile and a quarter from the interstate, but then it's the town square and the barbershop. Yeah, the red and white barbershop pole slowly spinning like lightening sending signals up to the heavens. And sure, there's the yellow ribbons and the W's and the good and thebad. And all of that.

We forgot about all of that. We were driving in a different country. One that remembered how to talk. One that remembered truth was more important than yes sir no sir. We were driving blue highway backroads,where we could see windmills spinning electricity.

Some crawl back into dreams. Some have forgotten their names. Some will pester the judges. Some will conjure the storms. Some will speak to thedarkness. Some will open the infinite door.

As for me, I'll keep on driving with Ezekiel.