POEM - Eureka! We’re Stuck

Over the river and through the woods

Almost to grandmothers house we go

But the storm closed the road

So we got to crash on the floor

Overnight in the YMCA

It's the chance you take

Driving from Portland to LA

In the end of December

We were lucky it wasn't worse

When we did finally get out

We saw other cars buried in snow banks

But that night we were warm and safe

Unable to find or afford a hotel

Hanging out with a few hundred others

All us have-nots waylaid  together

For us it was already a last ditch trip

We were close to broke

Like we usually were back then

In the student days

I may have been very young

But I knew that we didn't have much

Still, we seemed to make it

Either on charity or pity

And we were able to see family

A couple times a year

Even if half the time it was a debate

Whether our car ran on gas

Or the tank was filled with prayers

I'm not sure Ford got the miles we did

Running on fumes at the test track

But we would get there somehow

To the promise of food and shelter

Some good talk and entertainment

A couple of bucks for the drive home

And a bag full of snacks when we left

As the morning came at the Y

So did word the roads would open

We drove around Eureka

To try and breathe fresh air

Shake off the claustrophobia

Then went out to the highway

To get in line and wait

It was still another couple hours

So we got out and played on the highway

The snow not so bad here

Though we would soon see the pass

Crowded with snow

With barely a lane or two open

As we drove under clouds dark as night

I watched the endless mounds of snow

Saw evidence of less fortunate travelers

Those abandoned cars half hid

Stuck in my head and wrapped up my mind

As a ghost dance beat

Chased us out of the mountains

Snow-blind and chilled to the soul

We found refuge in the City of Angels

From those frozen ghost of Christmas

Stuck back up in the mountains

And lost on the streets of Eureka