If I were an automobile
Parked in the garage at night
My brain would be the engine
And my belly would be the gas tank
And they would talk to each other
Through speaker wires
And the tank would say,
“Engine, wake up, I am full”
And the engine would say back
Nothing
Because the automobile is not on
And engines sleep deeply
When not running
So the tank would wake up the ignition
And say,
“Ignition, wake up the engine”
And so the ignition would turn
And the engine would roll over
And wipe the sleep out of its motor oil-crusted eyes
And say,
“Gas tank, what the hell are you doing? Do you have any idea what time it is?”
And the tank would say,
“Yes, I know, I am sorry, but can we please go for a drive?”
And the engine would sigh and, already pulling out of the driveway, say,
“I told you not to drink so much at the station last night.”

Originally written on: February 2, 2021