Highway Hosts
by Emily Anne Granger
The highway is lonesome,
but easy, now that the storm has left
the I-5 runs across the grasslands
across amber waves of grain
I watch the sun slide behind the mountains
turn the last streaks of thunderstorm cloud
to chips of abalone shell
ivory, peach soften to
cream, lavender slip into
plum, rose draw back to
grey, opal fade
to black
Into this newborn night
a host of glowing white billboards appear
they fill the sky, they announce:
Beef coffee family-value
Salad slots service-smiles
Gas snacks all-hours
Luxury
Living
luminous rectangles
make straight the path, push back the night.
Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid.
They come with good news.
You’re never far from another stop.