Your car sputters and rolls to stop
At the edge of the road.
You look at the gauge. it's
Empty. You swear
And get out of the car
You kick the nearest tire
Then wince at the pain.
You check your cell phone
And the battery is dead
So you take your keys and
Start walking
On the side of the road.
Soon a man drives
By in a
Pickup truck. He pulls over
And asks if you want a
Ride. you say yes and get
In the passenger seat.
The truck is dirty and
The man smells of cigarettes.
He smirks over
At you and you can see out of
The corner of your eye that he is
Staring at your chest.
Your hand grips the door
Handle. You
Stare hard out the window
As he
Asks you what your name is.
(a mock poem of Raymond Carver's "Your dog dies.")