A charter bus can look very different

when the lights are finally darkened.

Normally chatting voices are shut off

almost instantly-- like the light switch.



It's 1 a.m, and I'm still awake.



The difficult position made by a reclining seat

makes for throbbing back pain and a sleepless night.

There's no way I'm falling asleep now

so I look at the bumpy figures

of sleeping people with neck pillows and throw blankets

It's true what they say. People look younger when they sleep.



I turn my sleep-deprived head to the window.

We must be passing a city, since the lights are

floating orbs or fireflies- I can't decide.

Maybe they're dancers in neon light suits

on a pitch black backdrop



Exhaustion is the perfect excuse to let my mind wander.

I think about the oddest things

such as whether I remembered to turn off my computer

or the meaning of a song title

or the meaning of life.

As I said, the most random ideas pop into my head

at about 1:30 in the morning.



Where are we?

I don't remember leaving Indiana,

but the sign shows an outline of Ohio.

Time seems to have blurred,

and it seems like we just boarded the bus

an hour ago.



The bus driver pulls into a circular Ohio rest stop

Thirty lethargic adolescents are spat out of the bus.

Restrooms. STARBUCKS.

It's way too late to function properly.

I climb back onto the bus,

my shoulders are hurting,

and all I can think is:

Insomnia sucks-



Especially at 2 a.m on an overnight ride.