hoosegow

a night of drunken revelry
a car filled
with mild-mannered hooligans
high as hell from
youthful trangressions
and youthful exuberance
rebels of rabble-rousers
raising the roof
of my ancient Caddy
and I,
on dreaded designated driver duty,
was convinced that their
hootin' and a'hollerin'
was gonna end with us all
going to the hoosegow
as we coasted
down the hill
past the police station
through a red light
my breaks giving out
despite feverish pumping
at 4 in the morning
on an autumn day
so long ago
it could have been a dream