Pass through town―
where traffic lights change
without traffic―
to single-lane outside the muddy bay.
Drive gently beside me,
sand in your hair, like in your dream―
hoisting from water to headland
can be messy.
Pull forward to a passing spot,
beyond the guardrail.
Raise a one-finger salute―
then press, to lip-read my intentions.
Disregard the carefully folded map.
Pray to your own hand―
my America ― my new-found land.
You know the way.
tk/August 2013
Thanks to R.A.D. Stainforth for momentarily stepping out of his black and white world to read this poem.
Join MagpieTales creative writing group.
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| photo by Steven Kelly |
Excellent feel! Very Kerouac! And very Kincaid! Awesome!
ReplyDeletesmooth and out of the box delivery for individual thought processes. Good job.
ReplyDeleteLove it. Very American with the one-finger salute, ha ha.
ReplyDeletesome amazing imagery and concept here.. loved it.
ReplyDeleteThe traffic lights continue their sequence, blind to traffic or lack of it.
ReplyDeleteThis warms my heart, Tess.
ReplyDeleteah yes memorable road trips with stops along the way! Lovely Tess~!
ReplyDeleteTraffic lights change without traffic. So often the case these days...
ReplyDeleteHate when my scooter is only one at light, and does not trigger a light-change. So driverless cross street keeps its green light...on and on.
ReplyDeleteMessy? Were you pulling a boat from the sea up the cliff?
You always have interesting "take" on these Tess. But you have a head start, yesss?
Take care, poet-girl!
Or a car from the water...yesss...I do have a bit of a head start...I'm allowed...giggle...always good to see you at Magpie Steve...
DeleteHate when my scooter is only one at light, and does not trigger a light-change. So driverless cross street keeps its green light...on and on.
ReplyDeleteMessy? Were you pulling a boat from the sea up the cliff?
You always have interesting "take" on these Tess. But you have a head start, yesss?
Take care, poet-girl!
indeed good imagery.....thanks Tess
ReplyDeleteThere are few things I love more than a memorable road trip :)
ReplyDeleteall for throwing the map away and seeing what happens.....fab read as always..x
ReplyDeleteI'm all for disregarding maps...
ReplyDeleteTraffic lights somehow are always green for others when one is waiting! Frequently there are no traffic but oneself. Nicely Tess!
ReplyDeleteHank
Happy happy memories of the road trips I've taken .. that all of us take in one form or another. :-)
ReplyDeleteI love Ronaldo's reading of that last line!
ReplyDeleteLove and risk do seem to go hand in hand....love this Tess! :-)
ReplyDeleteI bet he loves this road !
ReplyDeleteHopefully so.
ReplyDeleteExcellent poem...I was with him all through the journey...
ReplyDeletecries inside the mind
Wonderful layers...dream/ reality ...a good trip!
ReplyDeleteA lovely poem, Tess, and some wonderful imagery.
ReplyDeleteAh, those auto-timed lights, there can be no one around for miles, yet they always seem to turn red when you approach them! The best trips are the ones sans map, just point the car and go. Nicely captured,Tess.
ReplyDeletePleasing and patriotic! Liked the swing to it!
ReplyDeletedisregard the carefully folded map..enjoy the journey..always nice to hear the reading
ReplyDeleteI'm all for mystery drives & throwing away the maps. It adds to the anticipation and excitement of what lays ahead. Wonderful write Tess, as always!
ReplyDeleteRisky road trip, sounds promising!
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear friends, for taking the time to read/watch/listen...and for your lovely comments.
ReplyDeleteMelikes.
ReplyDelete