I’ve always wondered why cars sit in the park’s parking lot

Idle

Just there, backed in, or pulled into a spot

As taxpayers, do the drivers feel entitled

Some people just sit in their cars and nap

Ironically, I’ve seen city workers do the same

The location doesn’t seem apt

Others smoke various things

It’s all a little strange

But I was one of them just the other day

I took my dog for a swim and a hike

It was a hundred degrees

When we got in the car and reversed, there was a sense of unease

The car froze

The clutch was in drive but was stuck in neutral

Halfway pulled out of a parking spot

A few other cars drove around us in the lot

I turned on the hazards as the engine hummed

I was a bit bummed

At least the AC worked

I read the owner’s manual to no avail

I stared out the windshield at the strangers that lurked

No one approached

But so many people were parked in their cars

Parked in the park

Like animals behind bars

I called the tow truck, told the guy, “I’m stuck”

“Stuck in neutral”

I asked if he could come fast, it was crucial

Some of the nappers stirred

On my windshield descended a bird

He had a blue belly

He looked at me

I didn’t know what he was trying to tell me

Storm clouds rolled in

There was intense lightning

And wind!

So many people were in their cars with the windows rolled down

Did they know a storm was coming through town

TORNADO WARNING blared on my phone

The people in their cars were all still

Sleeping, smoking, phoning

Overhead was a funnel cloud

The atmosphere grew loud

My car wouldn’t go into drive

I told my pup we had to get out alive

We left the car, ran toward the shelter

I shouted to them all, “Get to a cellar!”

I saw the tow truck pull in

All the people sat in their cars

There was a whirlwind of sirens and alarms

I watched as the tornado whipped through

I didn’t know what to do

It sucked up all the cars in the lot

Even the one that had been in my spot

The area was razed

The tow truck driver got out and said, “Sorry I was late”

“The atmosphere has been brutal”

“Looks like all these cars and people were stuck in neutral”

I wondered was it the cars or the drivers’ states of mind

Overhead, on time, flew a little blue bird