Traffic by Nancy Byrne Iannucci

Stained glass street lamps guide travelers through dense frankincense. The eastbound lane passes fourteen rest stops of condemnation, whores, & afflicted mothers visible only to those rubbernecking. They reach their destination by the shore & watch their children in white diving head-first into pools of oily rejuvenation, trusting they’ll lead lives free of temptation. The westbound lane moves at a 6 pm Long Island Expressway pace en route to the city; as they inch closer & closer they question & curse their plight; they blast their horns in tears. The long wait to their destinations, to their homes, to their loved ones seem like centuries to bear after a long day. The heat of the afternoon singes their black clothing through the sun glaring glass. As they exit the tunnel passing the entering eastbound traffic, they both dip their fingers into the holy water. 

*Originally published in Bop Dead City

Nancy Byrne Iannucci teaches history and lives poetry in Troy, NY. Her poetry can be found in numerous publications including Gargoyle, Juke Joint Magazine, Three Drops from a Cauldron, Riggwelter, Typehouse Literary Magazine, and Hobo Camp Review. Her debut book of poetry, Temptation of Wood, was recently published in 2018 by Nixes Mate Review.