The Lane That We're In by Mark Rickerby at All poetry

I was driving along on the Ventura freeway yesterday
Singing an old Jackson Browne tune and lost in thought
When I realized that everybody was driving like lunatics,
Like they just robbed a bank and didn’t want to get caught.

And it dawned on me that one of mankind’s fatal flaws
Is not being able to slow down, relax and enjoy the ride.
I mean, what is the hurry? Why not arrive a little later?
Is saving a few minutes worth getting all angry inside?

The thought that followed was even more disconcerting
Because even I could relax a little bit more deep within.
In many ways, I thought, my life is just like this freeway.
I just never seem happy enough with the lane that I’m in.

Why do we always think “down the road” will be better?
Why do we live our lives as if it’s some kind of a race?
Why do we squander time chasing some fantasy “there”
Only to find that another “there” always takes its place?

Thoreau said most of us lead lives of quiet desperation.
When life has no larger purpose, we start dying inside.
Maybe "road rage" is caused by subconscious frustration.
Maybe we punish each other for dreams that have died.

Maybe a crash is just a meeting of two incomplete souls.
Maybe we speed to create the illusion of going somewhere.
Maybe rushing is just some kind of sad, empty metaphor
To make up for dreams dying from lack of courage to dare.

Ah, but it’s just driving. Maybe I’m reading too much into this.
I'm probably stretching this silly freeway metaphor way too thin.
But still, I wonder if we'd be happier on the road, and in life,
If we all just learned how to be happy in the lane that we’re in.

Author notes

I believe the problem underlying all other problems in the world is lack of self-esteem and a sense of purpose on an individual level. People are happiest and have the highest self-esteem when they are actively pursuing what they believe is their "true calling" in life, and happy people are much less likely to do harm to others. The most dangerous people are the most miserable and fearful ones.

Gandhi said to change the world, we must first change ourselves. I think it also works the other way. If we are out of harmony with ourselves, we will spread disharmony everywhere we go. In fact, I believe that most car accidents - and wars - are the result of disharmony within the people involved.

"Show me a man without a dream and I'll show you a man who's dead." - Sammy Davis, Jr.

Here's the Jackson Browne song I referred to in the poem -

Your Bright Baby Blues
by Jackson Browne

I'm sitting down by the highway
Down by that highway side
Everybody's going somewhere
Riding just as fast as they can ride
I guess they've got a lot to do
Before they can rest assured
Their lives are justified
Pray to God for me baby
He can let me slide

'Cause I've been up and down this highway
Far as my eyes can see
No matter how fast I run
I can never seem to get away from me
No matter where I am
I can't help feeling I'm just a day away
From where I want to be
Now I'm running home baby
Like a river to the sea

Baby if you can see me
Out across this wilderness
There's just one thing
I was hoping you might guess
Baby you can free me
All with the power of your sweet tenderness

I can see it in your eyes
You've got those bright baby blues
You don't see what you've got to gain
But you don't like to lose
You watch yourself from the sidelines
Like your life is a game you don't mind playing
To keep yourself amused
I don't mean to be cruel baby
But you're looking confused

Baby if you can hear me
Turn down your radio
There's just one thing
I want you to know
When you've been near me
I've felt the love stirring in my soul

It's so hard to come by
That feeling of peace
This friend of mine said
"Close your eyes, and try a few of these"
I thought I was flying like a bird
So far above my sorrow
But when I looked down
I was standing on my knees
Now I need someone to help me
Someone to help me please

Baby if you need me
Like I know I need you
There's just one thing
I'll ask you to do
Take my hand and lead me
To the hole in your garden wall
And pull me through

Written March 22nd, 2006

In a list

Philosophical • next in list

A contest entry

Whats wrong with society? by the man. 300 points, ended April 1, 2006, 37 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest

What did you think

Comments

1 - 36 of 36

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AusStar
June 25

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Wonderful, I love just sitting in my car listening to music as you know, I'll have to see if I can get a copy of that Jackson Browne song, I've always loved songs that refer to blue eyes since I have blue eyes. You know what I've always noticed and always makes me laugh... you always catch up with the lunatics at the next set of lights, all their insane driving and acting like idiots never gets them any further that you, driving sedately enjoying the ride. Anyway, hi-ho hi-ho its off to work I go, not a soul on the road at 5.30am I've noticed!
- Mark Rickerby
  June 25
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  Austar,
  
  I stopped speeding a long time ago. It's so much more relaxing to leave early and let the world swirl around me while I listen to the radio and sing. Those poor saps risking accidents and tickets. Not me anymore, thank you very much. Even if I am late, who cares? It's better to arrive late in this world than early in the next.
  
  M
SusanL
April 10, 2006
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PS another fitting quote -

Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so too.
Voltaire, Essay on Tolerance
French author, humanist, rationalist, & satirist (1694 - 1778)
- Mark Rickerby
  June 25
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  Hey Susan,
  
  I was just revisiting some old comments left on this piece and wanted to thank you for yours, if I didn't back on 4/06. Two years already. Scary how fast time flies. I hope you've been well. I'll be stopping by your page to catch up with your work.
  
  M
SusanL
April 10, 2006
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i am not sure which was more insightful the poem or the comments. It is interesting how a seemingly innocuous poem can stir the hearts of so many. I have to agree with what you are saying in your poem, but there is also that line of getting stuck in a rut or being satisfied with a status quo that is less than optimal.
I read the piece you posted in the comments about post - katrina thoughts and most of the other comments back and forth as well. One thing I appreciate about you is you know (as well as anyone can) what you believe in and why you believe it. you are not afraid to stand up for your beliefs, but you do not belittle others for what they believe.
There is a saying.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. "
Voltaire, (Attributed); originated in "The Friends of Voltaire", 1906, by S. G. Tallentyre (Evelyn Beatrice Hall)
French author, humanist, rationalist, & satirist (1694 - 1778)
I feel this applies to you.
Thanks for sharing yet another piece of Rickerby Wisdom.
Susan
gothic requiem
April 2, 2006
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I really liked this one. It's not so much that it rhymed, but the fact that there was definitely a rhythm and a flow. The poem was opinionated without being too self-righteous or preachy.
comet of 1989
March 27, 2006
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an interesting piece. i can't totally agree with where you are coming from, but i can say that this piece is very thought provoking. you sure have a lot of talent... and a nice amount of trophies!!!! well done, a good write.
X Tragedy X
the man
March 25, 2006
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pretty good
queenie
March 24, 2006
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again you have presented another view of a situation.it provokes a bit of thought and a little pondering.i'm inclined to agree with you to a certain degree.i believe if people were to slow down they would become a lot smarter about what it is this world is about and who they really are and who they should be.i think there is vast personal satisfaction to be gained if we stop trying to change lanes at a high speed.you have a great knack at presenting these thought-provoking views.you may get some opposition but you gain respect for being yourself.i know i will always have respect for you even when i don't agree with you.another thing besides the structure you present these things in,you also don't try to shove it down anyone's throat and that's the most respectable thing you can do.
Bronwyn
March 24, 2006
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*great stuff my friend*

now, say with me ... ROAD RAGE, ROAD RAGE, ROAD RAGE!!!! ... i don't even have my lisence yet, i'm just a backseat driver and i get road rage like crazy...
you see, everyone in South Africa drive like their @$$'...

best of luck to you in the contest!!
sad-but-true
March 23, 2006
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Again you have written something that makes your reeaders think hard about "which lane they are in". Most of us, and this includes me, fall into the "well I'm stuck here so I mine as well stay here" attitude. It takes a lot of courage and dedication to stop and think about what is inside each of us and what it is that will make us happy. I, myself, did such thing and found that I love cleaning residential and businesses, but I also love spending time with my family and coming and going when I please. I made the ultimate sacrifice and quit my job to start my own business. Now I didn't do this over night, it took many months to be honest with myself and to find my clientel. After getting these things done I found myself a happier worker, mom, life mate, and most importantly a happier self. This is just an example of what someone can do when they take the time and the courage to look inside themselves to see exactly what makes them happy. Happiness comes from within, it can not be bought, borrowed, or even traded, it must come from yourself. This was a very extrodinary write. I loved it. Hugs ~val~
Mark Rickerby
March 23, 2006
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Thanks, Schatzi. Glad you enjoyed this.

Mark
Mark Rickerby
March 23, 2006
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heismysong,

Thanks for your comments on this, and the Biblical perspective. Always appreciated, though as you know, I have serious doubts about whether any religion is true. Every culture has it's own version of the truth, and the same motifs were created by all of them (immaculate conception, Gardens of Eden, great floods, crucifixions, resurrections, etc., etc.) Apparently, human beings have a need make sense of their world in similar ways so the same basic story springs up again and again. They all sound like fairy tales to me, and I don't like basing my life and decisions on a fairy tale.

I know there are a lot of passages in the Bible that suggest it is ungodly to be successful, and to be content with less, make knowing Christ your ultimate goal, etc., but if you're living in a hovel, I don't care how faithful you are, it's still going to suck. I don't consider personal accomplishment and spirituality mutually exclusive.

Nowhere in my comment did I imply that people should strive for success "no matter what they have to do to get it". That's a bit of a stretch, don't you think? lol

I also totally disagree with this statement -

"The Bible aslo talks about God having a "path" planned out for us. Our choices still matter, of course, but it is ultimately God Who allows us to go a certain way. And, believe it or not, sometimes He does LET people choose and travel a bad direction in life."

If God has a plan for everybody's life, he must be a sadist for the plans he made for the 3000 people who either got crushed, burned alive, or jumped to their death from the towers on 9/11. The Nazi Holocaust was great thinking on his part, too.

One thing I do agree with you about is this comment -

"You know, part of the reason we rush around is because we've been duped by 21st-century advertising propaganda, from "hot-and-ready pizza" to "high-speed internet"... everything out there is YELLING at us to GO FASTER!"

I've been all over the world and you're right, other countries do know how to enjoy life more than Americans do. For instance, workers in most countries have 2-3 month vacations every year, not just two weeks. America is a nation on wheels, obsessed with production and success. However, when I used the word "success", I didn't mean financial success only, I meant fulfilling one's dreams, whatever they are.

Thanks for reading this and my previous post (Child Bride). Though I have my doubts about religion, as you know, I always appreciate your thoughts.

Take care,

Mark
Mark Rickerby
March 23, 2006
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Hi Yvette,

I'm sorry you edited your comment, and equally sorry that other people gave you a hard time about your feelings about Bush, etc. That was a controversial comment on my part and, in retrospect, very open to misinterpretation. I didn’t say President Bush only affected a few people. Obviously, the thousands of soldiers who have lost their lives are much more than a few. What I was thinking when I said very few people are personally affected by what Bush does is that very few people I meet on a day to day basis (school, work, shopping, etc.) are soldiers or know any soldiers. They're doing what they would have been doing no matter who was in office now or what the social climate was. I certainly didn't mean to downplay the war in Iraq or all the lives that have been lost and I will edit my author's comments accordingly to avoid further misinterpretation. The loss of lives in Iraq, whether we should be there or not, makes that statement insensitive, whether or not it was intentional.

Re. New Orleans, please read this article (originally posted under my poem Eagles and Rats at allpoetry.com/Poem/1484060 ). It’s exactly how I feel (and it was written by a black man, not me.)

Moral poverty cost blacks in New Orleans
By Reverend Jesse Lee Peterson

( The Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson is founder and president of BOND, the Brotherhood Organization of A New Destiny, and author of "Scam: How the Black Leadership Exploits Black America." )
September 21, 2005

"Say a hurricane is about to destroy the city you live in. Two questions:

What would you do???
What would you do if you were black???

Sadly, the two questions don't have the same answer.

To the first: Most of us would take our families out of that city quickly to protect them from danger. Then, able-bodied men would return to help others in need, as wives and others cared for children, elderly, infirm and the like.

For better or worse, Hurricane Katrina has told us the answer to the second question. If you're black and a hurricane is about to destroy your city, you'll probably wait for the government to save you.

This was not always the case. Prior to 40 years ago, such a pathetic performance by the black community in a time of crisis would have been inconceivable. The first response would have come from black men. They would take care of their families, bring them to safety, and then help the rest of the community. Then local government would come in.

No longer. When 75 percent of New Orleansresidents had left the city, it was primarily immoral, welfare-pampered blacks that stayed behind and waited for the government to bail them out. This, as we know, did not turn out good results.

Enter Jesse Jackson and Louis Farrakhan. Jackson and Farrakhan laid blame on "racist" President Bush. Farrakhan actually proposed the idea that the government blew up a levee so as to kill blacks and save whites. The two demanded massive governmental spending to rebuild New Orleans, above and beyond the federal government's proposed $60 billion. Not only that, these two were positioning themselves as the gatekeepers to supervise the dispersion of funds. Perfect: Two of the most dishonest elite blacks in America, "overseeing" billions of dollars? I wonder where that money will end up??

Of course, if these two were really serious about laying blame on government, they should blame the local one. Responsibility to perform legally and practically fell first on the mayor of New Orleans. We are now all familiar with Mayor Ray Nagin the black Democrat who likes to yell at President Bush for failing to do Nagin's job. The facts, unfortunately, do not support Nagin's wailing. As the Washington Times puts it, "recent reports show [Nagin] failed to follow through on his own city's emergency-response plan, which acknowledged that thousands of the city's poorest residents would have no way to evacuate the city."

One wonders how there was "no way" for these people to evacuate the city. We have photographic evidence telling us otherwise. You've probably seen it by now the photo showing 2,000 parked school buses, unused and underwater. How much planning does it require to put people on a bus and leave town, Mayor Nagin???

Instead of doing the obvious, Mayor Nagin (with no positive contribution from Democratic Gov. Kathleen Blanco, the other major leader vested with responsibility to address the hurricane disaster) loaded remaining New Orleansresidents into the Superdome and the city's convention center. We know how that plan turned out.

About five years ago, in a debate before the National Association of Black Journalists, I stated that if whites were to just leave the United States and let blacks run the country, they would turn America into a ghetto within 10 years. The audience, shall we say, disagreed with me strongly. Now I have to disagree with me. I gave blacks too much credit. It took a mere three days for blacks to turn the Superdome and the convention center into ghettos, rampant with theft, rape and murder.

President Bush is not to blame for the rampant immorality of blacks. Had New Orleans' black community taken action, most would have been out of harm's way. But most were too lazy, immoral and trifling to do anything productive for themselves.

All Americans must tell blacks this truth. It was blacks' moral poverty not their material poverty that cost them dearly in New Orleans. Farrakhan, Jackson, and other race hustlers are to be repudiated for they will only perpetuate this problem by stirring up hatred and applauding moral corruption. New Orleans, to the extent it is to be rebuilt, should be remade into a dependency-free, morally strong city where corruption is opposed and success is applauded. Blacks are obligated to help themselves and not depend on the government to care for them. We are all obligated to tell them so."

Re. the “Iraqi civilians that have lost their lives”, the Iraqi’s have much less to fear from our soldiers than they do from the insurgents, who are blowing up everything in sight and killing any of their fellow Iraqi’s who show the slightest cooperation with the western forces. This is a surgical operation. That’s why we’re not carpet bombing the entire country, as we easily could. We’re sending our soldiers door to door to pluck out the terrorists hiding behind women and children. I’m very tired of the liberal mantra that we are irresponsibly killing civilians. Our civilian casualties are accidents, which our military and our people mourn. The insurgents/terrorists’ (same thing) civilian casualties are intentional, which they celebrate.

Also, Clinton and Kerry (both Democrats/Liberals) wanted to take Hussein out of power, too. Clinton even proposed it to Congress but they opposed it. So it’s no surprise that Bush planned this years ahead of time. Hussein was slaughtering hundreds of thousands, threatening America with WMD’s, and using them against his neighbors. A 15 year general under Hussein recently came forward and said Hussein did have WMD’s, including nukes, and that he spirited them away to Syria just before the invasion. So it looks like a lot of people owe President Bush an apology for saying he “lied”.

No one person has his “finger on the button”. The President can’t just blow up the planet by himself. There is a protocol, a chain of command, secret codes, joint agreement, etc., that must be observed before anyone launches nuclear weapons.

Bush is “driving the bus”. True. But it would be a pleasant trip if not for the terrorists constantly trying to run it off the road. The attack on the U.S.S. Cole, the first attacks on the Twin Towers, the bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, all occurred during Clinton’s term, but he was too busy screwing around with interns to properly address it, which is why we got sucker punched again on 9/11.

One of the most important things I’ve learned from this war is that both liberals and conservatives want peace, though they differ on how to go about achieving it. Except for military contractors, nobody likes, wants, or profits from war, so most liberals and conservatives are good people with differing opinions. I have conservative feelings about some issues and liberal feelings about others, but I’m very conservative when it comes to this war. That is, I believe the fundamentalist Muslims are the Nazi’s of our generation, and they need to be wiped off the face of the earth. For instance, a man is being tried in a “court of law” in Iran right now for converting to Christianity. If he’s found “guilty”, he will be executed. Nice, eh? How long is the civilized world supposed to stand by and watch fanatical Muslims rape, murder and pillage?

Hey, how did a poem about being happy on the freeway turn into a debate about the war? I had to go and say the word “Bush”. Haha

Take care and thanks for the heads up on my comment. I’ll reword it to avoid any more confusion.

Peace,

Mark
heismysong
March 23, 2006
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Well-thought!
Hey, Mark!

I liked this poem- I can't say I agree with your philosophy/take on it, but I still liked it.

You have several thoughts in here that made me think of Bible verses and/or ideas. The first one was a verse that says, "Godliness with contentment is great gain." Another thought I had was that the Bible alludes to the Christian life as a race, only we're all striving for the same prize, which is Christ.

The reason I can't agree with your philosophy on it is that I'm not sure people need self-esteem as much as they need selfLESS-esteem. By your definition of it, someone may easily say that success is getting something, no matter what they have to do to get it, and I'm not sure I totally agree with that.

The Bible aslo talks about God having a "path" planned out for us. Our choices still matter, of course, but it is ultimately God Who allows us to go a certain way. And, believe it or not, sometimes He does LET people choose and travel a bad direction in life.

You know, part of the reason we rush around is because we're been duped by 21st-century advertising propaganda, from "hot-and-ready pizza" to "high-speed internet"... everything out there is YELLING at us to GO FASTER!

I've never been out of the U.S., but I've heard that many countries are unlike our because the pace of life runs along more leisurely. I guess that's no surprise, either... I mean, alot of people in our country don't even honour the day that God specifically set aside to REST!

ALL THAT TO SAY...

I do enjoy reading your poetic thoughts- it's nice to read works with some depth in them. (I read some of the "Child Bride" piece, too- WOW.)
Mystical-Gardenia
March 22, 2006
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Brilliant!! Two thumbs up!! Brava!!
Brilliant you are the vessel and the freeway of life has become your epihany and you have eloquted it magnificently... is it that we are all brought up to be first... seeking the finish line... perhaps what is lacking is the school of internal balance and what or whom shall implement this among the young?? Thank you for the amazing piece of wisdom

Wishing you much success in all of your endeavors
nichtmich
March 22, 2006
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Expressive
A very well thought out and well presented work of art! I was afraid when I first started that I was going to see the typical troll tirade for/against "Rethuglicans/Democr@ps", etc. So relieved . Your poem really hit home, and then some! I have to bookmark this one for future enjoyment, or just when I'm feeling stressed Not that politics and/or wars are unimportant, but as you so eloquently stated, we need to start with ourselves. Thanks for a thought provoking and smooth read! BTW, best wishes for the contest.
Viyanna Rosemarie
March 22, 2006
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i really like you r write but i have to comment on the author comments too.

Baby if you can hear me
Turn down your radio
There's just one thing
I want you to know
When you've been near me
I've felt the love stirring in my soul

that part of the song really struck me. i live with my headphones on all but about three hours a week. well, the shower too but then i have my radio full blast. music has become my way to block out all hte garbage that was going on in my life. some say, i hide behind them. they are right. i was in such a bad place that i could no longer handle all of the stuff. i was cracking and music offered the diversion i needed and it is not something i can easily go without now. i am so lost without it. so whomever wishes to win my heart will have to talk awfully loud.

sorry about all the attention to the song but it really hit a chord with me--so to speak. viyanna r langager
Yvette Champ
March 22, 2006
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Well written,thought provoking write imbued with a truism.I have long held the same view over people that just cannot stand in a queue anywhere without moaning whilst I wait patiently they pass their disharmony on.The fact is we all have to queue and I wonder if the people that cannot queue are the same inconsiderate oafs on the road?I suspect so.Now,for the very first time I have to disagree with you re the statement that very few people are personally affected by Bush personally,love and light,Yvette
Edited on Mar 23 because 'Because....'.
Mark Rickerby
March 22, 2006
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haha - me too sometimes. A friend of mine is even worse than me, always rushing to get ahead of the next car. He's as nice as can be when he's walking but put a steering wheel in his hand and a startling Jekyll and Hyde transformation occurs. I said to him once, "Do you realize that no matter where you are on the earth, there will always be someone in front of you?" He looked at me like I had an armadillo coming out of my nose and continued to yell at everyone on the road. So much for philosophy. hahaha

Thanks,

Mark
DreameeDarlin2U
March 22, 2006
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Okay, I'm one of the guilty ones on the freeway driving like a madman! And I totally agree with you on this piece. The world is a "rat race" and I'm just trying to get ahead. But then I ask myself, "ahead of what"? I have no clear answers, but still can't seem to slow down on the road, or in life. Wonderful write, I really enjoyed it, thanks for sharing!
March 22, 2006
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Great write. I love when I read something that really makes me think. Hey-maybe that's why we are all in a hurry-we forget to think. Thinking certainly slows us down for a while. But then again, if we ponder something too much while driving we forget to focus on our driving. Oh yes....this poem has my wheels turning now!
DawnBaby
March 22, 2006
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Excellent
Been a while since I have read anything from my favorite rhymer, I love the way you so effortlessly create art with your words, even when you are just talking about the damn freeway! You are one of the best in my opinion, your work always outshines the rest. Excellent as usual.
ocerus
March 22, 2006
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This is good, Mark, though to be honest I'm not sure it qualifies specifically as poetry. I don't know. I guess it could qualify as prose. Either way, I actually agree with every statement you made here - although I must say that W probably took us to war in Iraq in part because his dad hated being criticised for not "finishing the job" in Desert Storm. Who knows? Pretty stupid, huh? But look at how WWI started! So anyway, I enjoyed this work and wish you continued success! Yours - oce
shzoosyQ
March 22, 2006
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i'ce had the same thoughts while driving...ahhh if people only realized the very essence of your write...good deal... shzoosy
March 22, 2006
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Thoreau said most of us lead lives of quiet desperation.
Folks have given up on themselves so their dying inside.
Maybe that subconscious frustration causes “road rage”.
Maybe we punish each other for dreams that have died.

That was I think the best part of your poem. the whole thing was good, but that had really great imagery. The entire write flowed really well. thought provoking indeed. shows the way that poet digs into words effortlessly. i like the concept you've mustered here. feel like sitting in a cafe and become that poet.. lol..
it just makes me smile. like those words are floating. there isn't any specific emotion attached with this. very objective, yet one can see into the depths of his mind.
creatively brushed i'd say with a bit of abstract mystery..
Mark Rickerby
March 22, 2006
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Hey fp,

I used to race around when I was younger and didn't put a lot of value on my life. lol But now I just bring a lot of CD's, stay in one lane, do one speed, and let the world swirl around me. They can all collect traffic tickets and risk their lives for nothing. Not me!

Thanks,

M
faerieprincess
March 22, 2006
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It seems not a whole lot has changed since JB sang that song. People in a hurry to go nowhere fast. Habitual lateness on the part of others, it wouldn't occur to them to set their clocks a little earlier. I'm the one that drives those people crazy. You see, I go my own speed, not fast enough ? Then by all means go around. When someone in front of me is going slow, I take it as God's clue for me to slow down too. I'm the one bopping to the music and enjoying the sites and sounds no matter where I am. For if my moment to go Home is on the highway, then I want to go my way. Great rhythm & rhyme, looking forward to it again sometime. Have a great week!
fp ~;~
March 22, 2006
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SVEET
Great poem! It got me thinking a lot, asked a lot of questions, and made me want to answer them. Made me think about life, and hope, and a lot of other things.
Waiting 4 Evermore
March 22, 2006
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woah....this piece is REALLY one of those that gets you thinking. i don't think u could have made this metaphor any more perfect. it is very sad at how the dreams and feelings of people are shot down and destroyed. this really was a beautiful piece.
haley
fivetwosixtwo
March 22, 2006
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this is beautiful & it made me think...and ponder...and such. it's just so well written & i love the ideas put into it. i also liked the flow & rhyming. they were nice. amazing job, keep up the good work. <3
Shancy Fayre
March 22, 2006
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You've done a marvelous job with this. Your poem has given me much to think about. It makes a great deal of sense. The song goes well with the poem, also. Like I said, it makes sense and I will be pondering deep thoughts about what you've penned, especially the next time I'm on the highway. Shancy.
Mark Rickerby
March 22, 2006
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dustookie2,

I agree completely and have often wondered myself how things would change if we were invaded by aliens. We might stop fighting amongst ourselves for once and see ourselves as simply "earthlings". Too bad we have to be under threat of annihilation for that to happen, eh? lol

Thanks for your thoughts on this. Glad you enjoyed it.

Mark
dustookie2
March 22, 2006
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brilliant thoughts
hey this is one awesome piece of work....could be you are right ... who really knows ... and hindsight is suc a beautiful thing. i did enjoy reading this and your thoughts certainly gave me thoughts to ponder over...if only we had the answer .... the individual, the one, the self has to start somewhere with someone.......would like to think we can do it...perhaps not in our life time....someone once said to me it will not happen until there is a greater threat to the world and we have to unit as one people in order to survive....interestng thought...no am not looking for little green men either.......the world is a small planet what happens on the other side we see it on the 6 o'clock news....and become immune to others sufferings....brilliant work
bludstaindsoliloquy
March 22, 2006
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You did a great job with this . . . makes my entry into this contest look like POO! HAHA . . . you'll do well . . . keep penning . . . keep sharing . . . and much luck to you in this contest!

Maggie
Toxic Mind 16
March 22, 2006
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i tottaly agree with this.. and awesome song.. and you nailed this metephor.. if i could drive id ride relax and wnjoy the ride .. everytime i get on the freeway now im going ot think of this !! i never thought of life and compared it to a freeway... very nice !!!