[Untitled 3]

She sits in the car
Restless fingers on a button or dial
Acting the older sister
In the front seat for the first time
"This radio changes colour!"
It's hard to see in peripheral
Whether that's excitement in her voice
Her index finger onto eject, hooks neatly the CD, then moves onto volume, traces the dial in anticipation
At the moment there's only static
"Switch the stations"
FM - AM
"Position available. Flexible schedule. Leave pay benefits."
Kshhhtsht
"How long has it been since you've taken a holiday?"
Kshhhtsht
"Families struggling with cancer need your help."
Kshhhtsht. AM - FM

There's nothing good on the radio.
Resting on the drivers side window my
Arm traces the steering wheel, the
Seat adjusted in an unfamiliar position
Forces me to lower my eyeline onto the speedometer.
"She just let you have the car?"

"She had $25000 in savings"

The static amplifies. The radio changes colour.
"You can't even drive it"
"I guess she
wants me to learn"
Kshhhtsht
"I can teach you"
"We can do that in your car, look the radio did it again"
"Change the station"
"Isn't it funny how even if there were music-"
Peripheral amplifies.
"When I increa- kshhht -olume# alkksI -hear"
"Turn it down!"
"Is static"

Dust on the dash,
A hairpin loose and floating somewhere in the back,
Half a pack of tampons in the glove box
Tassle from a keyring brushes against my leg;
Some instructional first aid cards,
Souvenir that can only be brought back from a hospital,
And the radio left on a frequency
That has nothing but static.

"I think I can hear her in there"
Please change the station.
Kshhhtsht
"If I turn it up loud enough. I can hear her everywhere"

https://www.reddit.com/r/poetry_critics/comments/831g4n/remembering_you_in_twos/dveivzp/

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/82i587/in_your_element/dvbcu27/