Fog and bridges 5

5. Lost and Found

Fog transforms the world.
Distracted, confused,
I drift into the exit lane,
nearly cause a long unnecessary detour.

At the last moment,
I recover,
check the rearview mirror.
Empty of cars;
I soon reclaim my lane.
I'm driving on a tree-lined highway,
still blurred by fog.

What are these trees? I don’t remember all these trees.
Wasthat the bridge I crossed?
Where am I?

Then, with a sudden flip, just as after sleeping on a train,
my body orientation rights itself.
A familiar freeway exit sign comes into view.
Ah, yes! This is the world I knew!

Photo: Trees in Fog, by Steve Whiston, 2008