Last night

Above a barren desert highway,

the premature Milky Way

was visible before the last bites of dusky sunset fell

beneath the horizon. 

Then no sun.

No moon for 6 more hours.

Even the passing headlights stopped before midnight.

The Big Dipper danced a circle,

never spilling a drop,

while the Milky Way spun sideways

ready to take a drink.