The Cutlass

She looked down
at the wheels, still spinning,
giant bug on its back
desperately flailing to right itself
but there's no turning over
or turning back
this time.

The last smirk
the last other woman
the last insult
was finally enough
of his hedonistic Hollywood soul
so she left
but not without the one thing
that would leave him as empty
as he'd left her---

the 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass.....

It went over the edge
just like in the movies
airborne for a split second
then crashing down
to an end over end flip
landing in defeat
some few hundred yards
below Mulholland Drive
while the lights of L.A.
stared in disbelief.

She pulled off the engagement ring,
raised her arm
ready to throw it down
to join the car
but stopped--
no, it will bring some cash if sold.

So she tucked the ring
into her pocket, hoisted
the knapsack onto her shoulder
and started off down the road
to see where it would lead
from here.