(The Mothman Leaves the Used Car Lot Empty-Handed) by Robert Wood Lynn

(The Mothman Leaves the Used Car Lot Empty-Handed)

by Robert Wood Lynn

published in his book, Mothman Apologia, from Yale University Press, 2022

You said the problem with driving a pickup is

never getting to be the one riding in the bed.

This is what I meant when I told you I had

trouble choosing grace. I want to, I do.

But also I need to be one of the ones who

gets to lie back against the wheel well.

To let the breeze lick my face, let it trick

the eyes into crying, let it raise my hair

like a drink before a toast—the one moment

I can still be sure all speech is blessing.