The Stranded Optimist

I sat there by the empty road

Deep in conversation

Hours and hours, ages after

With the signpost next to me

We spoke of love and latitudes

Of cyanides and coconuts

We never ran out of words

Even our silence was chatty

The first car came by afternoon

One full of things pretty and young

Their trunk was loaded with vodka

And barrels of lust and blood

They said they were off to denial town

And wanted me to hop along

But I was off to the city of truth

And politely declined the ride

Then came the happy caravan

Strumming and plucking and raving

They played tunes of fame

And had every note in place

They were off to never never land

A land not so far away

But I was off to solitude

A place that was not on their way

Darkness was next on the road

Gathering speed with the setting sun

The signpost logged out for the day

Ending the conversation with it

I sat there by the dark, empty road

Not a headlight within miles

I waited and waited and waited more

For the bus that never came