Independent Thought

Rain. Rental car.
Automatic navigation. Screen with map and voice:
“In half a mile, Turn right.”
“In a mile, Turn left.”
“Keep right.”

“Turn right onto Atlantic Avenue.”
Barricades, knocked over by previous cars.
Street passable. Turn right.

Water rises in right gutter.
“Keep straight.”
Water flows into center lanes.
Truck rushes by, spraying water.
“Keep straight.”
Water rises.
“Keep straight.”
Waves rock car in front.

Move to center lanes.
“Keep straight.”
Turn “Keep straight.” across lanes.
Safety.
Side street is six inches higher than Atlantic Lake.

“Turn right. Turn right, again.
Then turn left onto Atlantic Avenue.”
Atlantic Lake. TURN OFF VOICE.
Count streets.
Read signs.
Turn into driveway, six inches higher than side street.
Twelve inches higher than Atlantic Lake.
RELIEF.