CAR WASH

I hand over my beloved old car

To an indifferent youngster

In the automatic car wash

To be cleansed of the clinging

Year-long desert dust

I see it enter the wash tunnel

When a sudden irresistible urge

Energizes my body

I too need to be cleansed

Of my sins, of my moods

Of my unholy foolish actions

Of my despair for the future

I tear off all my clothes

I run after my car

Into the tunnel

Ecstatically naked

The giant cleaning flaps

Rotate and slap me hard

Soap on my body

Soap in my eyes

I shout with liberated joy

As I emerge behind my car

Shining clean, fully forgiven

Singing out loud Hallelujah

Until the cops come

To take me away