night drives | Teen Ink

night drives

December 27, 2015
By Christina2588 GOLD, Smithtown, New York
Christina2588 GOLD, Smithtown, New York
12 articles 4 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"Language is the house of Being. In its home man dwells. Those who think and those who create with words are the guardians of this home." - Martin Heidegger


Looking out a plane window,
I wondered if I had ever seen
stars this close before and had
somehow let myself forget-
not understanding the beauty
to be found  
in a vulnerable sky.

I had done that a lot growing up-
forgotten.
I let memories dissipate in anticipation
of better ones, not knowing, or maybe refusing
to believe, that the best memories were quiet
and garnished with love.

I wondered
why I hadn’t appreciated more as a child,
why I didn’t gulp down life like I would
a lemonade on a sweltering day.

I took many things for granted then.

Driving down darkened roads,
I didn’t look at trees dripping red
in awe,
but instead with heavy eyelids.

In my ignorance,
I missed beady-eyed automobiles
tear down freeways heading towards
a fresh start or a familiar sunset.

What I would do
to go back
to those evening car rides
and keep my eyes wide open.


The author's comments:

I was flying with my family over Europe at night and it was the first time i had flown at night. When I looked out the window I was met with hundreds of shining stars that looked like they were practically pressed against my window. I was taken aback by the beauty and asked myself why I had never appreciated stars before. I went further and wondered how many other beautiful things I had taken for granted and that's how I came up with this. 


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