on the road

the oil needs changing,
the lights are all flashing
on the dashboard,
the engine is running
sluggish, it's getting harder
to climb the hills
or hug the curves with
any speed, and those tires
are getting thin and slick,
the tread is nearly gone.
the wipers blur the glass,
the filters are filled
with the soot of hard driving.
i'm nearly out of gas,
and the warranty on this
heap is expired, but i'm
going to try to get at least
another ten thousand miles
out this once sleek machine,
just hold on, let me take
a shower and shave, do
some push ups, let me
get ready to roll, beep
the horn and i'll be out.