Blue and Orange

The first time I heard Jesus Christ
Actually heard it
was in the backseat of your car
as the four of us drove around in the dark.
Only by blue lights on the dashboard
and that ominous orange gas light
could I see his face
reflecting in his window.
Each pluck of Jesse's fingers
measuring the increments
of empty space between us.
And the darkness surrounding us
around and around as
we drove across the island.
And the empty silence
that filled the car
at 4:22
only to be picked up again at 4:31.
9 seconds, that was how long he turned
to look at me.
It was dark all summer
but the song would pick up again
And the gas light stayed on.