Challenging Poetry

the hero's journey as road trip

in the ordinary world,
classes, eat, sleep,
homework,
classes again, but then,
a call to adventure!
road trip to hiking!
hesitate. refuse. too much to do--
that paper--
twenty-five pages by Monday,
but when roommate consults--
it'll clear your mind, she says.
you'll be ready for work again
when we get home,
and so, cross the threshold.

fifteen university students
three cars, six tents,
the road, singing, reading,
put that book down and laugh
with us.
speed trap. ticket.
but hearts are pure--
success. campsite laid,
hot dogs, marshmallows,
a feast before the ordeal.

hiking. seven water bottles
and going up. up. up.
how many steps left? too many.
and when the first trail is over,
turn right and pass
over bridge, up the cliff,
to the end. the view
our only reward. isn't it worth it?
maybe. snacks.
going down, the bottles empty--
less weight. good.
less water. problematic.

sleep the journey home.
awake with a paper still
to do, but with skin rough,
wind and sun burnt.
different. life doesn't fit
so easily, anymore.
can we go away again?
maybe next weekend.

line count: 44

I like road trips. But as I was thinking about making one into a poem, I started thinking about how The Hobbit was a road trip of sorts, and that just led here.