The Morning Commute

Even free donuts come with a cost. Intro: Back Pocket, Vulfpeck, Vulf Records (2015) Poem: Lies I've Told My 3 Year Old Recently, Raul Gutierrez Music: Friday I'm in Love, The Cure, Elektra Records (1992)

Thursday is Wednesday's Friday. Intro: Back Pocket, Vulfpeck, Vulf Records (2015) Poem: In Passing, Lisa Mueller Music: Golden, Jill Scott, Hidden Beach Records (2004)

My windshield wipers are largely metaphorical. Intro: Back Pocket, Vulfpeck, Vulf Records (2015) Poem: Gift of the Book, C.D. Wright Music: La Camisa Negra, Juanes, National Own (UC) (2004)

Cubicle walls may be delusional, but they're our delusion. Intro: Back Pocket, Vulfpeck, Vulf Records (2015) Poem: Hummingbird, Raymond Carver Music: Jungle Boogie, Kool & The Gang, Island Mercury (1973)

The carpool lane giveth, and the carpool lane taketh away. Intro: Back Pocket, Vulfpeck, Vulf Records (2015) Poem: The World Crumbles, L.E. Bowman Music: Fighting for Peace, Cory Henry, Henry House Entertainment/Culture Collective (2022)

Absence makes the heart grow fonder...of commuting?

You don't open a dozen donuts without a plan. Intro: Boogie Wonderland (with The Emotions), Earth, Wind & Fire;The Emotions, Columbia/Legacy (1979) Poem: Calling on All Silent Minorities, June Jordan Music: BET ON ME, ITZY, Republic Records - ITZY (2023)

In a remote working world, any windshield flyer can become interoffice mail. Intro: Boogie Wonderland (with The Emotions), Earth, Wind & Fire;The Emotions, Columbia/Legacy (1979) Poem: The Ideal, James Fenton Music: Love Letter To Japan, the bird and the bee, Blue Note Records (2008)

One man's shortcut is another's backseat driving. Intro: Boogie Wonderland (with The Emotions), Earth, Wind & Fire;The Emotions, Columbia/Legacy (1979) Poem: Encounter, Czeslaw Milosz Music: Under Pressure, Queen;David Bowie, Hollywood Records (2018)

I took a different route today. I don't want to talk about it. Intro: Boogie Wonderland (with The Emotions), Earth, Wind & Fire;The Emotions, Columbia/Legacy (1979) Poem: In This World, Izumi Shikibu Music: Higher (Escalators), Bakermat;Nic Hanson, Big Top Amsterdam (2023)

A traffic jam is basically bulk carpooling. Intro: Boogie Wonderland (with The Emotions), Earth, Wind & Fire;The Emotions, Columbia/Legacy (1979) Poem: Evil, Langston Hughes Music: Symmetry, Little Boots, Elektra (NEK) (2008)

The last thing I remember is a sign that read, 'Hot Fresh Donuts.' Intro: Alright, Supergrass, Echo (1995) Poem: The Mower, Philip Larkin Music: Star Scat, Caravan Palace, Wagram Music (2008)

Sometimes it's okay to not talk. Intro: Alright, Supergrass, Echo (1995) Poem: Late Summer, Carrie Fountain Music: Hook, Blues Traveler, A&M (1994)

I don't care what speed you go, as long as you're not in my way. Intro: Alright, Supergrass, Echo (1995) Poem: November 18, Ted Kooser Music: Worthy, Mavis Staples, Anti/Epitaph (2024)

This interchange does a great impression of a parking garage. Intro: Alright, Supergrass, Echo (1995) Poem: I Was Dressed by the Wind, Leonard Cohen Music: Dreams, The Cranberries, Analog Spark (1996)

Driving three blocks with the turn signal on is the same as not using it. Intro: Alright, Supergrass, Echo (1995) Poem: Prayer, Ellen Bass Music: Tired Of Love, Penelope Road, Warner Records (2024)

These donuts aren't going to eat themselves, and frankly I'm tired of carrying them. Intro: Boy With a Coin, Iron & Wine, Sub Pop Records (2007) Poem: Lost, David Wagoner Music: Like Sugar, Chaka Khan, Universal-Island Records Ltd. (2019)

You don't need to signal. We can all see where this is going. Intro: Boy With a Coin, Iron & Wine, Sub Pop Records (2007) Poem: local man ruins everything, Adrienne Novy Music: Canned Heat, Jamiroquai, Sony Music CG (1999)

The merge lane is about momentum, not courtesy. Intro: Boy With a Coin, Iron & Wine, Sub Pop Records (2007) Poem: Artemis II, Leslie J. Anderson Music: California Soul, Marlena Shaw, GRP (1969)

Carpooling is just peer pressure with seatbelts. Intro: Boy With a Coin, Iron & Wine, Sub Pop Records (2007) Poem: Coda, Octavio Paz Music: Tightrope (feat. Big Boi) - Big Boi Vocal Edit, Janelle Monáe;Big Boi, Bad Boy/Wondaland (2010)

My GPS said 'turn around when possible.' I've been trying to do that since high school. Intro: Boy With a Coin, Iron & Wine, Sub Pop Records (2007) Poem: Instructions on Not Giving Up, Ada Limón Music: Workin' For a Livin', Huey Lewis & The News, Chrysalis\EMI Records (USA) (1982)

I'm not too proud for day-old donuts. Intro: Bad Bad News, Leon Bridges, Columbia (2018) Poem: On Meditating, Sort Of, mary Music: Good Man, The Grooveliner;Aina Cook;Ryan Stewart, The Grooveliner (2021)

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the left lane. Intro: Bad Bad News, Leon Bridges, Columbia (2018) Poem: From 'Sabbaths 2007', Wendell Berry Music: Plant the Garden, Melt, Melt Records (2024)

The world would be a kinder place if we learned how to zipper-merge. Intro: Bad Bad News, Leon Bridges, Columbia (2018) Poem: This World, Czesław Miłosz Music: Your Soul & Mine, BADBADNOTGOOD, XL Recordings (2024)

I remember when driverless cars meant using your knees. Intro: Bad Bad News, Leon Bridges, Columbia (2018) Poem: In the Morning, Before Anything Bad Happens, Molly Brodak Music: Tender Defender, Vulfpeck;Theo Katzman, Vulf Records (2025)