driving at night
blacktop stretching in front and behind as far as perception carries
trees and farmland and asphalt

headed somewhere
nowhere in particular
maybe just anywhere new
your sleeping hand in mind
speaking sotto voce to a dream

your thumb twitches against mine
electric

i turn up the volume a bit
smiling
humming along

when we arrive wherever
what will we find?
what will we do?
what experiences await?

the highway hums beneath
the streetlamps fly past
you continue to converse in hushed alien tongues
as we draw closer and closer
you and i
to my next favorite adventure

happy birthday, Natalie!