No One at The Wheel

Rearview mirror.
Little eyes.
Small hands gripping.
Holding tight.
Mother braces.
Father stares.
Red lights blinking.
Nobody cares.
No one is driving.
Everybody's there.
No one at the wheel.
No one at the wheel.
We didn't steer.
We didn't choose.
They walk away.
We take the bruise.
No one at the wheel.
No one at the wheel.
Same road.
Same crash.
Same lies.
New masks.
Pick a side.
Pay the price.
Same road.
Same crash.
Front row talking.
Back row broke.
Windows fogging.
Cabin full of smoke.
One says left.
One says right.
Nobody's watching.
Not tonight.
New man standing.
Takes the seat.
Same old engine.
Same dead street.
New direction.
New disguise.
Same damn dashboard.
Different lies.
Promise a shortcut.
Promise a change.
Turn that corner.
Back here again.
Round and round.
Round and round.
Wheels keep turning.
No safe ground.
No one at the wheel.
No one at the wheel.
We didn't steer.
We didn't choose.
They walk away.
We take the bruise.
No one at the wheel.
No one at the wheel.
One finger points back.
Then across the seats.
One man shouting.
Another retreats.
Blame that passenger.
Blame that row.
Blame everybody.
But the road.
Kid starts crying.
Mother holds tight.
Two men arguing.
Who's wrong,
who's right.
Man by the window.
Worn work coat.
Split skin knuckles.
Dust in his throat.
They call him trouble.
Call him the cause.
He's just riding.
Same as us all.
He looks at me.
I look away.
Then look again.
Same damn pain.
Glass starts shaking.
Engine strains.
Voices rising.
Passing blame.
Tick.
Tick.
Brake lights flash.
Tick.
Tick.
Same road.
Crash.
Jaw locks shut.
Bad tooth bites.
Hands start shaking.
Grip goes tight.
Whiteout taught me.
Hold that rope.
One man slipping.
We both go.
I know that feeling.
Know that pull.
One wrong move.
Whole line goes.
He reaches over.
Offers his hand.
Somebody shoves him.
I help him stand.
One more shove.
I feel it rise.
Old red pressure.
Behind my eyes.
LOOK AT THE ROAD.
LOOK THROUGH THE GLASS.
STOP POINTING FINGERS.
WE'RE MOVING TOO FAST.
HE DIDN'T STEER.
HE DIDN'T CHOOSE.
NONE OF US DID.
WE ALL LOSE.
I could swing.
I could snap.
Not at him.
Not like that.
NO ONE AT THE WHEEL.
NO ONE AT THE WHEEL.
SAME ROAD.
SAME CRASH.
NO ONE AT THE WHEEL.
NO ONE AT THE WHEEL.
Who's driving.
Just stop the bus.
And get off.
One hand reaches.
Finds the red.
Same man blamed.
Now standing ahead.
Another hand.
Then one more.
Ours together.
Pull that cord.
Wheels lock hard.
Rubber screams.
All that shouting.
Gone between.
Nobody fighting.
Nobody runs.
Open the doors.
Count everyone.
One by one.
Row by row.
Mother steps down.
Child in tow.
Cold night air.
Under our feet.
No more sides.
No more seats.
No one at the wheel.
No one at the wheel.
We didn't steer.
We didn't choose.
They walk away.
We take the bruise.
No one at the wheel.
No one at the wheel.
Rearview mirror.
Empty seats.
Small hands free.
Cold concrete.
Nobody shouting.
Nobody left.
Bus still running.
Road ahead.
No one at the wheel.