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jbouder
Member Elite
since 1999-09-18
Posts 2534
Whole Sort Of Genl Mish Mash

0 posted 2000-01-05 05:00 PM


While struggling up an Appalachian hill
my ’83 Toyota 4x2’s
2-barrelled, aluminum blocked 2.2’s
whirring complaint prompts my pedantic muse
to yank my drumstick/pen, against my will,
from tapping out my grand accompaniment
to Santana’s riff.

An ATM receipt serves as my parchment and
a chewed up, black-inked, PaperMate, my quill.

As I breathe deeply, my lungs take their fill
of  engine’s vaporous, gasoline effuse
(I forgot to change that gasket).  Static subdues
Ricky Martin’s “Vida Loca” and what ensues  
(a petty pleasure, I admit) is an evil thrill
at the yawning ravine’s grand accomplishment.
Laughing, I thank God.    

The temperature gauge needles to
the red and I crank the heat higher still.

One last swallow of lukewarm coffee swill,
I toss my polystyrene cup refuse
to the floor just as the radio spews
“…skin the color mocha…”.  I pay my dues
For being cruel to Ricky and start uphill
to seek a culinary establishment
to staunch my stomach’s growl.

An epiphany!

Dunkin’ Donuts appears above the hill!
Flea banishes static with his base’s thews
as the Red Hot Chili Peppers infuse
my drumstick/pen with new power to bruise
the steering wheel.  I pull off to refill
on caffeine and, in contented wonderment,
proceed to savor life.
< !signature-->

 Jim

"If I rest, I rust."  - Martin Luther



[This message has been edited by jbouder (edited 01-05-2000).]

© Copyright 2000 Jim Bouder - All Rights Reserved
Seaangel
Member
since 1999-07-27
Posts 167
Auckland, New Zealand
1 posted 2000-01-05 05:06 PM


This had me laughing and moved and laughing and moved!! I love this one.

Corinne
Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167
state of confusion
2 posted 2000-01-05 05:10 PM


What a wonderful, wild ride, jbouder!

Corinne

Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648

3 posted 2000-01-05 05:15 PM


Very entertaining, Jim! I enjoyed this!

 Denise


hoot_owl_rn
Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750
Glen Hope, PA USA
4 posted 2000-01-05 06:17 PM


ROFL...not at the poem Jim, but at the fact I've written a number of poems driving 65 miles an hour down the interstate on backs of ATM reciepts, grocery reciepts, napkins....whatever I could get my hands on at the time. I now carry a notebook with me at all times. I find when driving I sometimes reflect more, get inspired by thoughts or sights, and need to write the words before I lose them Good poem my friend...and YES!!!! free verse too                                         

[This message has been edited by hoot_owl_rn (edited 01-05-2000).]

jbouder
Member Elite
since 1999-09-18
Posts 2534
Whole Sort Of Genl Mish Mash
5 posted 2000-01-06 07:13 AM


Thanks everyone:

Ruth:  

This is not free-verse, oh great teacher.  If you look closer you will see it is a Bouderian Quatroseptet (a coinage from Jenni in CA) with a rhyme scheme of abbbacd/ea/abbacf/ga/abbbach/i/abbbacj.  

Thanks again, all, for the comments and, Ruth, I take no offense at the the suggestion that this was free-verse.  Again   .

 Jim

"If I rest, I rust." - Martin Luther


Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA
6 posted 2000-01-06 09:44 AM


I love it - I really love it - I simply love it... I wish I writ it......um... rote it.... um...had writ.... wish my quill spilled this'un....
jbouder
Member Elite
since 1999-09-18
Posts 2534
Whole Sort Of Genl Mish Mash
7 posted 2000-01-06 03:11 PM


Not many posts but, what is this?  Three Moderators/Members Emeritus?  What an honor!

Nan:

Glad you liked it.  Just trying to make my teacher proud.  

 Jim

"If I rest, I rust." - Martin Luther


Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
8 posted 2000-01-06 03:38 PM


Let's make it four! I think it's great! I've gotten to be pretty adept with that drumstick/pen, too, on occasion....my temperature needle has a steady home on red...and a fresh cup of coffee can definitely make the world seem a better place. Thanks for the feelings.
Severn
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704

9 posted 2000-01-07 08:53 AM


Will a senior soon to be emeritus member do? LOL@YOU!

Jim - I don't know - that's purty complicated rhyming like.

Yuk - Ricky Martin - only flaw my friend...hehe - I will reprimand you in CA!
Mind you the 'being cruel to Ricky' made up for the mention...

Excellent! Well thought out - lots of effort.

K


 '...I want to be free - free to know people and their backgrounds - free to move to different parts of the world...' Sylvia Plath

jbouder
Member Elite
since 1999-09-18
Posts 2534
Whole Sort Of Genl Mish Mash
10 posted 2000-01-07 09:15 AM


Balladeer:

Thanks for the compliments and your welcome on the "feelings".  Moderators everywhere!

Severn:

No ... I'm afraid Senior Members just won't do.  Post again when you reach Member Emeritus status. lol.     Thanks for the reply.

 Jim

"If I rest, I rust." - Martin Luther


whiskey
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Senior Member
since 1999-12-28
Posts 1278
Australia
11 posted 2000-01-07 10:01 AM


This is great , wonderful poem full of laughs and moving thoughts  
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