it was made of wrinkled steel, pearl dust marble, and
tainted silver to hold trailer trucks, coast to coast
grizzled drivers kept their eyes on the mirror, cautious
while some young guns weaved in and out of the lanes
unaware of mortality by the next curve, or pain
from a missed turn, it always happen everyday
i heard it on the radio, a collision or an accident,
or i passed by along, coldly detached, shaking my head
at my high car insurance premium bill, price of gas, price of living
in this city of cement, where a second or seconds too late
may mean a difference of going to my office on time, or
getting crushed by fast lane, fast food and endless lists
of things to do, whistling car noises cut my reverie of words
rolling from my tongue, i kept trying to remember their taste
did i give you a good-bye morning kiss, or said i love you
yesterday or maybe the week before, i don't recall anymore
while running after work deadlines, striving to earn points,
pacing my goals one green light at a time, i
turn to look at my blind spots, before I switch lanes
to another bridge, I see, I see
Posted for D'verse Poets Pub- Awareness of the Experience , hosted by Sheila Moore.
Roads and bridges speak to me as I drive to my office morning and afternoon.
Photography by: Walter W Smith
Phone: 864 – 569 – 6533
Email address: seeartrun@yahoo.com
Artist website: www.newdigitalscapes.com
Art blog: www.walterwsmith.wordpress.com
Online store: www.newdigitalscapes.imagekind.com
Email address: seeartrun@yahoo.com
Artist website: www.newdigitalscapes.com
Art blog: www.walterwsmith.wordpress.com
Online store: www.newdigitalscapes.imagekind.com
the picture is so contrary to going to work in some big urban setting. interesting that you found that story in that picture.
ReplyDeletedisembodied spheres
I meant the words to contrast the image...and relating it the picture at the end.
DeleteI like the wordplay with "i burned a bridge a long time ago" and relating it to the daily life pressures where we so easily forget the important things. I felt those things while reading it, getting caught up in all those things--the bills, the swerving to gain a few seconds.
ReplyDeleteIn real life, I did burned a bridge (my life in another country) a long time ago.
DeleteThanks for your lovely comments.
sometimes life can get so fast that we hardly have time for anything else than keeping our eyes on the road...honestly..sometimes in the evening on my way home from work i sit in the car and try to remember what i'm wearing...kinda silly..eh...but often i have no clue... i like how you capture this in your poem and i like the intro much
ReplyDeleteah you caught eh frantic pace at which we move very well....and sometimes i too wonder if i did this or that as the day progresses...there has to be a slower pace you know...and that might be the bridge to burn....
ReplyDelete"turn to look at my blind spots, before I switch lanes" ... Hmmmm. Our blind spots can put us in danger. It's a good idea to check them frequently.
ReplyDelete~Shawna
rosemarymint.wordpress.com
great one, Heaven. I always get chills when I am running late and not five minutes before me a fatal accident occurs on the highway. I think - that could have been me. So, I don't sweat over being late! (smiles)
ReplyDeleteThis reminded me of Ice Road truckers TV show, where they had to drive in Tibet. Yikes.
ReplyDeleteFabulous imagery!
Hi Grace, I enjoyed your take on my art. Your words are complexed
ReplyDeleteI did not complete my thought in the previous comment. I like where you took the art piece via your prose. We live in a complex world and a bridge is often symbolic of a journey to and fro inside ourselves. I often use a bridge as a symbolic gesture in this manner.
ReplyDeleteYour photograph is stunning~ Thank you for sharing them with D'Verse, Walter.
DeleteHi Grace - Nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteMeri
Burned your bridge a long time ago would be good, Grace! It cut off the bad and brought in the good. And to do that was to switch lanes. How interesting! Great verse!
ReplyDeleteHank
I say burn the bridge with the fast pace, but then one has to live and put food on their plate. So we get wrapped up it the hussle and bussle. Not fun indeed, as I too have to think if I did this or that, although I usually did and checked ten times with my OCD and all..hahaha
ReplyDelete"whistling car noises cut my reverie of words
ReplyDeleterolling from my tongue, i kept trying to remember their taste "
I just love those lines! You've captured that hectic traffic feeling so well but with just a hint of longing for a simpler, more laid-back life. Great write!
there is an awareness that requires us to pace ourselves as we race along...many do not observe...too frantic...running "red lights" ...this speaks of your recognition and response...purposely put, yet feels slightly.....clever :-)
ReplyDeletePeace ☮
Those bridges that need to be burnt...I have burnt some and I am still standing in the middle of others...I love how you took a pastoral setting and related it to the city...nice work
ReplyDeleteThe pace of life everyone goes at is scary...you capture it well in this clever poem. Things can turn in an instant....I've no wish to go back in the fast lane...thanks for the reminder, Grace :)
ReplyDeletedid i give you a good-bye morning kiss, or said i love you
ReplyDeleteyesterday or maybe the week before, i don't recall anymore
while running after work deadlines, striving to earn points,
pacing my goals one green light at a time,
So much truth and wisdom there is tucked away in this little gem. Delightful.
Wonderful poem.
ReplyDeleteWish we could pause more - and enjoy the journey.
Poignant, thought-provoking, Grace. I repeat what Dave says from those lines, my favorites, too.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I really like how you question getting caught up in the rat race, and step back wondering if you have said 'I love you'. I make it a point to do that every day.
ReplyDeleteWow, very intense, great reflection on how everyday routine often obscures reality and robs us of true awareness. Your using the bridge as metaphor for this is ingenious and I think the reveries that take place adumbrate all those daily concerns that fill our days. Not that they shouldn't but as I think your poem asks us to ponder, can we transcend them to find a higher sense of purpose, a more charitable understanding of oneself as well as of others?
ReplyDeleteAs we dance the Workaday shuffle, there has to be that one moment when we stop. Time out to appreciate the things and people in our lives is monumental!..Thank you for being sensitive to that.Great insight.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think in burnt my bridges Grace, really I think..
ReplyDeleteReally good metaphor- using the bridge and it's interactions and accidents as a mirror to look at what is really important in life. This made me think of the saying- 'it's not the destination but the journey that is important'. Well carved words and really nice to read. You nailed the prompt!
ReplyDeleteI really love what you did with this, Grace!
ReplyDeleteWell written, Grace. Sometimes it seems that life moves too fast, and we just don't remember to do the things that really matter, such as that morning kiss. We just get so caught up...when we need to try to slow down.
ReplyDeleteI have been there, Grace. Your poem expresses it all so well. Now that I'm retired there are days when I "almost" miss it. That is so strange I know. These things are part of our being alive. Thanks so much for the clear picture.
ReplyDeleteOh the pace of the city. You have written it so well. Now that I live rurally, I couldnt take that pace any more. The time it takes me to change lanes, I wouldnt last five minutes on your average freeway. Really well written poem. I felt the stress!
ReplyDeleteHaving logged many miles and time on the road, I was drawn into this piece like steel to a magnet. I loved every line, every word. Like Cowboy poetry is for the drover, this is for the truck driver or traveler. I can even see how this is for the every day commuter as well. Well done!
ReplyDeletePeace
I am happy that this poem resonated with you. Thanks for the visit ~
DeleteI like how the poem started with imagery of a bridge.. It sounded like you were talking about cars & roads, and then the pace suddenly matched that of our life. I'm a follower now! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat poem, I like it! Sometimes we have to burn the bridge for living in the peace in the soul.
ReplyDelete