I've Got Gas.

© 2005 Annabelle A. Udo

Chevron Gas Prices o' the Day (19th Avenue)
$2.97
$3.07
$3.17

There aren't too many people at the gas station tonight. Through the fog I see silhouettes of a dreary society burdened by this injustice of rapidly rising fuel costs. At this moment, a New York law professor on TV says, ""There is no justice except for justice in this world."

We are in a society where east coast does not meet west coast as often--the sudden fear of flying brings a feeling of unrest . . .and we sit and scratch ourselves wondering how to travel and cross statelines.

My eyes hurt as the Cost of Living and I have a staring contest. I blink.

Battle Hymn

© 2005 Annabelle A. Udo

Chevron Gas Prices o' the Day (19th Avenue)
$2.91
$3.01
$3.11

Everyone has a story that hovers around them as if the black net of Death floating upon one's head. There are boastful tales from our uncles and there are stories that remain hidden in the attic--rotting in the skeletal closet of Time. There are experiences and events that have not yet happened and as they happen, it will be written by an invisible hand in the book of Life.

In the distance, a cellist plays with long, droning, melancholic strokes as if a soundtrack that expresses sorrow and devastation. Even on this rare sunny day in San Francisco, there is a nostalgic sadness, a kind of distressing feeling. Perhaps, it's the immense increase in gas prices and public transportation fees. Maybe, it's just that all is really the same and we're just paying more for this redundancy.

The newness of living has gone away and the pollution of past, present, and future wars invades our breathing space. Meanwhile, if you missed out on a battle, they have been re-created for your pleasure as surround sound, technicolor wars so we can be voyeurs from the comforts of our chairs with popcorn in hand watching man fight man fight woman fight children fight himself.

And, so, the ocean is exactly where I know it. . .
. . .and the moon appears like a lover in the night,
. . .and the sun comes panting like a lost dog at my door,
. . and suddenly everything becomes nice. . . and all is free.

Riddle of Zen

© 2005 Annabelle A. Udo

Chevron Gas Prices o' the Day (19th Avenue)
$2.77
$2.87
$2.97

The freeway towards enlightenment often requires filling up the spiritual gas tank in order to reach our destination point. There are times that we take the wrong exit but manage to hop back on to the labyrinth that will take us back. I often find myself behind the steering wheel--always a driver--rarely having the luxury of being a passenger and catching the view with relaxed eyes. The search for nirvana continues as I travel down this avenue of Life with map in hand and my inner compass twirling. It's a madhouse out Here and Time seems to be as if two drunken pedestrians passing each other in the night. We are awake in our dreams yet when our eyes are open we think we are losing sleep. All of this is really about traveling--still--with the earth spinning beneath our feet.