SUMMER NIGHTS

19 or 20 and home for the summer,

We’d drive thru Upstate NY

For hours,

To visit my girlfriend,

Who was a counselor

At a summer camp.

I’m not sure why I did this,

It was like a madness.

She could only see me at night,

For an hour or so,

And I worked during the day.

Sometimes, my friends

Would go with me.

What good friends they were.

Sometimes they would drive

And I would sleep.

One time,

We had a flat tire,

At 65 or 70 on the freeway.

We pulled over,

Changed the tire,

And moved on.

I don’t think I was ever grateful enough,

For them being there,

Sharing my wild dreams and passions

Or escaping from boredom,

It doesn’t matter,

Like it was just what you do,

With your friends on a hot summer night.

Windows rolled down,

Tape deck playing,

Wondering,

What might happen next.