Drive

We are on the road
Before first light
Driving north from
Austin headed for
Lawrence, Kansas,
To take my brother
David to a classical
Music symposium at the
University there.
I leave my wife and kids
Behind for a week.
My father is driving,
My sister Mary and I
Have come along and
David is laughing.
We drop David at his event
And drive east into the dark,
As the sun goes down and
My father begins to nod off.
Mary and I convince him
To let me drive as far as
The Kansas-Missouri border.
He is asleep in minutes,
Mary and I talk to keep
Me awake and drive across
Missouri toward our surprise goal,
Through the dark and rain.
Late that evening we reach my Aunt Berneice and Uncle Bob’s
Home in St. Louis,
All stumble in to eat,
Talk and sleep.
My Aunt Berneice pulls me
Aside and tells me to take
Care of my father,
Her elder brother,
And I promise to
Keep an eye on him.
Later we drive on to visit
Family in southern Illinois
And then drive back
To our homes in Texas.
A car trip we all
Remember to
Cherish in
Our hearts
But never
Speak of
Out loud,
We are
Mings.