Moonlight Drive

by Ian West© Copyright Ian West. All rights reserved. (299 words)

Driving down that winding road

A dull and deep depression seeped

Into my mind of full obsession, weak.

A song sang over the radio,

“Look at the stars and how they shine for you!”

I obliged, as I tend to do.

 

The Maui sky was full that night.

It looked as though boundless eyes

Were looking down and into mine.

 

Of all the lights in the starry sky,

I was lured to one and began to cry.

The others blurred and washed away,

To flood the night another day.

 

Tears filled my eyes with sorrow,

And my heart filled with visions of you.

I could see you in that star,

Brighter and more beautiful than Venus,

Swimming on the horizon.

 

I pulled over the car to the side of the road

And started to walk towards you.

I lost control,

What became a sprint had began a stroll,

An aimless wandering that I did not know.

 

Old as I was I stripped my clothes

And dove head first into the ocean cold.

I quickly warmed the cool sea breast

And filled a void with emptiness. 

 

I swam and swam from the sandy shore,

I swam from my car, my life, and more –

I swam to you.

I swam so far that I reached the horizon and beyond.

No matter how far,

Or for how long,

I could never reach you.

 

I swam until my muscles seized.

I swam until I could not breathe.

I swam until I could sink at ease.

 

Far from the land I knew,

I sank beneath the waves

And into the ocean’s womb –

My final resting place,

A sombre peaceful tomb.

 

And then I looked up at the sky,

Though the salt water stung my blissful eyes,

Just to see you one more time.