People spend all their paychecks on vehicles

Tires, windshields, leather seats, a steel frame             

Hoping to separate themselves from the menial

But aren’t they all the same

We chain ourselves to a cubicle 40 hours a week

To pay for something exorbitant to get us around

Hoping the bigger or curvier or newer will make us feel unique

Sometimes a bike is faster

Or even two feet on the ground

Some cars are coffins

At least some are cozy

We judge others by theirs quite often

We think these expensive shells can somehow make us well

Conceal our imperfections, whisk our troubles away

But it’s a complex melee

Sign here – work your life away there to pay for it

All the while that vehicle is driving you to your grave

He pulled out of the driveway on a Sunday

I was in the passenger seat

Looking in the mirror to make sure my teeth were neat

Scuuuu—raaaayyyy—pppp

In a second the damage was done

We shrieked for a moment

He backed into the driveway

We got out and looked in the sun

On the side of that $7,000 paid-for minivan was a dent

With a red swath of paint from the truck parked on the street

There was no reason to call the insurance

We didn’t cry in defeat

In fact, we laughed because it was okay

Both our old vehicles were just slightly dented

We never for a second lamented

We realized what we drive is just a shell

The new love dents were another story to tell

Does what you drive drive you

Think about it

Can a box on some wheels buy your status or your friends

Or your eternal salvation

Could it simply be a casket

Just thought I’d ask it

Get out of your grave