The Howl

The bus is heading North

Descending through a mist

There was formed in the warmth where the sea and night air kissed

The passengers erase themselves to sit in isolation

They spread out along the aisle, avoiding conversation

When the engine started with a howl

Emulating the road like a wild, untrained coal

Creaking with it's soul, the bus grinds to a halt

And I'm the only one awake except the driver

The night has been to take them all

And left us two survivors

And then I heard the howl

The dog lay in our way spread out on the tracks

A long forgotten stray, an empty void of black

The driver tried to move her on but cowered back in fear

She would either let us go or we'd be stranded here

But when I looked her in the eye I knew what I must do

I reached deep down in my soul to my memories of you

And I gave a howl

A howl, a breath full of hope

Like every song ever wrote

Born from a pain of despair

A sacrifice of truth to the end

And knowing the meaning of the song

She hung her head and was gone

Now the midnight bus is rolling on

The passengers wake up

One of them is bleeding and another is throwing up

Another two are fighting, one begins to yell

And I wonder surely, this is hell