Driving a Long, Straight Stretch

Yesterday—the dog and I on the long

stretch between Winnemucca and  Lovelock--

I fell asleep.  Felt my head nod and bob…

Awake!--  a moment unaccounted for.

There was another moment—thought I left

the dog wandering in the sagebrush

wandering onto Interstate 80–

loved little dog dead in a second.

Made it to the place I call home,

forced myself to open the curtains, 

“Didn’t die this time,” I reminded the dog.

Poured a glass of wine and said, “Cheers.”