The Pride of Elizabethtown, Ky

by Ryan Quinn Flanagan

She climbs into bed
beside me
and turns out the light.

I imagine Europe
the Dark Ages,
only the green fire alarm light
blinking in 28 second
intervals.

We are on our way
to Florida.

The land of Jimmy Buffet
and the Seminole
Indian.

Outside
by the car
a large bronze fountain
of lions
stands guard.

The pride of Elizabethtown
Kentucky.

If we drive right through
we should be on the beach 
by five,
the darkness
says.

I play the ode to joy
on my belly,
or how I imagine it should
be played.

My fingers in the dark
like the legs of
a jubilant
spider.