That summer we stuck
in the seats of the old Ford
our cotton clothing
clung to us wet
no one dared crank
the panes-
a few bugs would join
the ride but soon exit
the heat I think drove them
so we didn't
who knew there was
so much Missouri
corn and milo
some tobacco too
I lost count of orchards
stopped off for apples
juice dripping down
the chin-
hurled the cores
onto the highway
till dad got after us
we saw signs
for real caves
but never stopped
Michael A. Wells
Magpie Tales 79
I love the apple juice and the throwing of the cores...the real caves. Charming write, Michael.
ReplyDeleteWonderful ride!
ReplyDeleteWe both thought of old Fords. Great minds... :-)
ReplyDeleteWhen I was old enough to drive, I took myself to several of the 'caves' my father sped past on our family outings. I should have taken his word for it.
ReplyDeleteGood write.
I also love the apple's juice dripping down the chin...
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun story in your poem...loved it!
ReplyDeleteOne of those seemingly endless childhood trips. Nice Magpie.
ReplyDeleteGreat feel in this, Michael. And the ending was excellent:
ReplyDelete"we saw signs
for real caves
but never stopped"
In your slim verse, you capture a feeling with your words that I identify with. Well done.
Oo, litterbug! LOL
ReplyDeleteA vivid write.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tess!
ReplyDeleteRene - thanks for coming along on the ride!
Berowne - I thought of others but came back to Ford. :)
Steven - sometimes we just have to see for ourselves.
Laurie - Only very tasty apples do that, you know ;)
Thanks Carrie!
Sue - then it captured feel - Thanks!
T - coming from you who I consider to be one of the masters of capturing feel, that means a lot! Thank you!
Jinksy - I'm pretty sure those kids were the REASON for littering laws. ;)
Andreas - Vivid is works... Thanks!
real caves...smiles. yeah dad might have got on us for tossing apple cores too...love all the sights you put in...took me back...
ReplyDeleteMr. Missouri Man ... this photo was meant just for you! Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteThese characters knew how to have a good time.
ReplyDeleteGreat write! I really enjoyed this.
ReplyDeleteBrian.... evidently Missouri cavers invoke great humor. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Helen... and I used to argue I'm not much of a geographical poet.
ReplyDeleteMartin: when you are stuck in an old Ford - pre a/c on a sticky Missouri summer day you make what you can of fun.
Mama Zen - Glad you enjoyed - Tanks for stopping by.
Very poignant-- I especially like to see the physical detail in this poem; your imagery carries the meaning so that no explanation is needed...xxxj
ReplyDeleteOozes nostalgia.....lovely take!
ReplyDeleteNot a trip I'd have enjoyed but I enjoyed your recounting of it.
ReplyDeletegood write!
ReplyDeletelike it!..
JJRod'z
I love poems that take me along on the trip!
ReplyDeleteJen - Don't you hate when poets are asked to explain ;)
ReplyDeleteLena... Thanks as I tip toe around the nostalgia. ;)
Friko - thank God for A/C in cars!
JJ - Thanks! Glad you stopped by.
Wyoming D - and you got transported all the way to Missouri on this one. :)
Apple juice and corns, oooh gr8!
ReplyDeleteIt's such a nice ride,Michael...Refreshing write!
Gawd, the memories this provokes of Sunday drives in dad's '47 Buick...
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed this and absolutely loved...
ReplyDelete"we saw signs
for real caves
but never stopped"
Nice one!
A perfect poem for the prompt I really enjoyed tagging along from beginning to end. You imagery put me right in the car.
ReplyDeleteOddly enough for one who has lived all my life on the west coast, I know the area of Missouri around Kansas City well as my mother lived in Lees Summit for years and my sister still lives there.
ReplyDeleteI have said of the Missouri summer roadsides that nowhere I know on the planet looks like the roadsides in Bangladesh except Missouri. That comes from similar summer weather I suppose, though Bangladesh actually is in monsoon at that time.