Breaking Even by Steve Klepetar

I drive home from the casino, having almost broken
even at blackjack, having overeaten at the buffet.

The air conditioning blasts on high and everyone is cold.
All around us the air vibrates with disease.

Someone coughs as the van hurtles through the night.
We have come to the old sign begging us to “Drive Careful!”

and I will. I slow down as the road curves downhill, past
the dangerous crossing, where an open field ends in a pretty pond.

We get out, stand on the little foot bridge.
Lightning bugs plunge toward the water in a fiery dance.



Steve Klepetar lives in the Berkshires in Massachusetts. He is on the editorial board of Right Hand Pointing and Verse-Virtual.