Middle of the Road

A poem by DuJuanay Huner, Jr.

2021

Months--Poetry
Poetry

en-US

text

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DeJuanay Hunter Jr_Middle of the Road.pdf

Copyright protected by DeJuanay Hunter, Jr. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required.

Note on transcription: This transcription may not reflect the poetic form established by the poet. Please refer to the PDF file of this poem available in the Files section for proper formatting.

Middle of the Road

The sun’s heat beats
On my face like
A father three shots deep,
Conjuring salty drops of
Water not unlike tears as
I linger down
The asphalt to my house.
An IV drip of
Caffeine, optimism, and The Oral Cigarettes Steadies
my heart until my bed can Devour me, erasing the day’s
Sins, a memory foam priest.
The deafening light and
The blinding music and
The bitter wind hold me
Hostage in the middle of
The road in the
Middle of the universe.
With senses stolen I double dog dare any car
To photobomb this halcyon snapshot.
Please.
My mother wins an Emmy
For her role of grieving parent when the
Boys in blue declare me
Reduced to a wine stain
In the middle of the road,
One hand shields her face as the other
Searches for flights to Maui. In three
Distinct cities Cullen, Amber, and Jisu
Breathe a simultaneous sigh of relief,
Curtains drawn on their
Roles as Friends One, Two, Three. Four
Rainbow-colored youth ten years from
Now follow in past me’s footsteps,
Choosing to donate their organs
To the crows, a pack of wild dogs
Unguided by a therapy practice
That never existed. True love and
Happiness disguised as snips and snails and
Puppy dog tales, well, puppies no longer,
Run circles in a field bereft of
Something they never knew they
Needed. With senses returned, a grin
Crawls onto my face as I
Continue journeying home,
Victorious in a game of chicken with Death.