Getting Ready

She slides out of her
mud-splattered Jeep,
straightens her knee-length,
black skirt, adjusts

her panty hose waist.
She runs her fingers
through her long, straight hair
and picks cat hairs from

the white sleeveless blouse.
Reaching inside
for the tailored blue
jacket she slips it

on despite the day's
heat. With bag on
shoulder, she checks her
earrings and marches

in sensible shoes
across asphalt,
steeling herself for the
interview ahead.

Early Morning Commute

Wind whips through my hair.
Asphalt slips away beneath my tires.
The mountain looms large in my vision,

filling my windshield with serenity.
The hulking beauty of Pele sleeping
makes it almost possible to ignore

the tailgaters, low-flying objects
darting in and out of lanes, and SUVs
that pull in front of me only to slow down.

I fight the urge to drive off seeking
unknown trails, mountain vistas and
force the car toward the cubicle trap exit.

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