christmas eve eve

the roads are worst
right as the temperature hits below freezing
one tight long sheet of ice

my head cradled sideways in the seatbelt
watching pricks of freezing rain attach to the windshield
cringing every time the wipers are released
the thin screech of exposed metal on glass
time stalls

just waiting for the precipitation to freeze
all for a snowy christmas
or to get home again
although home is more likely to be found out here
knowing i belong to a place i haven't arrived at yet

headlights reflected in the side mirrors
blinding and frustratingly persistent
i tilt my seat back and close my eyes