Somewhere else to be

I didn't wrap my head in roses. I didn't run
screaming down the street. I didn't drive
off jagged cliffs or dive in roaring seas.

I broke no cage door open. I set no horses
free. The day the girl at the drive-thru
window softly smiled at me.

Actually, I did nothing as she handed
me a large iced tea, an extra packet
of ketchup, a small bag of onion rings.

I didn't even smile back at her just pulled into
the street, searching my rearview mirror
to catch her ees on me. 'Cause there were
cars behind me and I had someplace else to be.

Down the street I saw an old man eating
as he drove, running over empty cans
lying in the road.

But the billboards near the highway were
full of singing birds and the trees were
blooming green in their little squares of dirt.

Every dog chained in every yard was
howling with me but I didn't even smile
back at her, I just pulled into the street.
'Cause there were cars behind me and I
had somewhere else to be.