The Daily Drive Home

Five o’clock, the engine hums Another day fades, the streetlights come Hands on the wheel, same tired scene Concrete rivers, grey and mean Nowhere fast, the traffic crawls Rearview mirrors, endless walls Nothing moves, nothing’s new Just the same miles I always knew I inch ahead, then stand still Like my life’s parked on a hill Brake lights and sunset glow Miles stretch on with nowhere to go Every lane just feels the same Different faces, same old game Steering wheel and a heavy sigh Watching pieces of daylight die Inching forward, still so far Counting moments from my car Billboards promise a brighter day Better things at the next highway I’ve passed these signs for many years Untraveled roads and hidden fears Left lane crawls, right lane stalls Someone shouts, the traffic calls Windows up, my mind drifts on Past these lines to a distant dawn Green light flickers, hope runs thin Three car lengths, then we’re stopped again I used to dream of open skies Breeze through hair, and happy times Now I measure my life in lanes Exit signs and stilted gains Maybe someday I’ll break away But tonight, in this lane I stay Brake lights and fading gold Another story left untold We’re all just trying to find our home Through crowded streets that feel alone Each evening plays its quiet part Still I inch through the dark Somewhere past this endless line A little peace is yet to find Turn the key, step outside Night air cool against my pride Driveway quiet, engine still Another day over the hill