Roadie

We bought some rounds
we made some friends
the bandaged thumb
of Michigan
we broke some laws
we bought some time
a shake of salt
a squeeze of lime

short of accidental
but it wasn’t really planned;
wasn’t quite a tractor-trailer
wasn’t quite a black Trans Am
but we never let it stop us
never let it slow us down
chewing through the endless asphalt
just a ricochet through town

We bought some rounds
we made some friends
red wine and
amphetamines
we broke a sweat
we borrowed time
and danced on
someone else’s dime

it wasn’t desperation
but it didn’t make much sense;
we had nothing else to offer
and we offered no defense
we just kept the tires burning
and we kept the headlights on
as it all flew by like fenceposts -
all we ever got was gone

We bought some rounds
we made some friends
black coffee and
carcinogens
we broke some bones
we did some time
sold our watches
and our prime

it didn’t make a difference
that we didn’t have a clue
that the miles, meth and money
we were blithely blowing through
would be coming up behind us
like a freight train down the track;
when those two kids died in Denver
no one thought of turning back

We spilled some rounds
we lost some friends
with shredded backs
whipped by loose ends
we broke it down
in double time
and left it at
the county line