The Demolition Derby

This is based on a true story - The wind was soft and swishy as the sun was drifting down, As most the town were mingling at the annual county fair, When loud across the speakers by the north concession stand, A “heads-up” call to Derby fans came crackling through the air, “Would all of those who came to see the Demolition Derby take your seats...the main event will very soon begin! In less than fifteen minutes we’ll be throwing down the flag! Our staff is standing by - at either end - to let you in.” Now, we were there to watch a friend who’d never raced this track, And, as he roared into the ring, the bleachers were abuzz. The fans around us started tossing comments back and forth, Trying hard to zero in on who this “new guy” was. Then someone said, “I wonder who he is and where he’s from. I’ve been to many derbies….but I’ve never seen him race! I tried to get a peek at him before headed in, But couldn’t get a real good look inside to see his face!” Someone just behind us snickered, “Doesn’t look like much! He’s probably just a kid, and when they’re finished with his car He’ll have to sit and watch the other fellas do it right! No one beats old 45....I don’t care who they are!” We overheard another fella say, “The King is here! They call the guy ‘The Butcher’, and he drives car 45!” They all seemed absolutely sure that no one “new” could win, Despite the fact that none of them had ever seen Art drive. The young man we had come to watch had labored long and hard To build the very toughest car the Derby’d ever seen. His name was Art, a Jensen boy, and with our fingers crossed, The two of us sat smiling down at -- number “413”! We listened to a lady say, “He must not have a sponsor! There are no fancy emblems, only names....though quite a few.” My wife and I would smile. We knew the names were those of family, And that Stephen, David, even Grant, were members of his crew! But then, at last, the gate was closed, as all the engines roared. The crowd began to cheer, and when the starter’s flag was dropped, The 10 determined maniacs began to fight their war To be - the last one moving - after all the rest were stopped. Art would take an early blast that made us hold our breath. The guy who got him tore away a massive hunk of grill, And even there, from where we sat, we both could clearly see That guy’d ‘ve been as good as dead if looks could actually kill! Now, Art was ticked - I mean…really ticked....he threw it in reverse, And very promptly paid that cocky moron back in spades. We cheered with great excitement as we watched him get revenge, And we could clearly sense the fire that burned behind Art’s shades! It wasn’t all that long before the first four cars were dead, And, 3 were barely moving, when the caution flag was raised. The race was briefly stopped to let a wrecker slip inside To yank a car that started leaking gas where it was grazed. But when, again, the flag was dropped, 3 were running strong, And 3 - just as before - were only barely still alive! In only three or four more minutes, all the wounded 3 Were standing silent…thanks to Art, and - number 45! What happened at the end was called a “miracle” by some, And most the crowd would claim it was…“a really lucky break!” The final 3 were circling - throwing rooster tails of dirt - When Art would spot “The Butcher” closing quickly in his wake. As if this wasn’t bad enough, the third surviving fiend Was barreling straight for Art’s front end! The crowd was standing, hushed! The smell of blood was strong as they prepared to go berserk, Waiting there, with anxious hearts, to see “the new guy”…crushed! But that was when young Art would make the best move of his life. “The Butcher”, and his partner, watched him fake a turn -- hard-right, But then he whipped it left so hard he actually rolled his car, And you could hear a pin drop as the dust would clear that night! Art had landed right-side-up! His car was running still! The fans were sitting silent, as they knew the race was done! The other two had hit so hard they looked as though one car! The Butcher - and his buddy - broke their sticks.....and Art had won! PS: I've now got 4 new Audio-CDs - @ 4 1/2 hours each = (62 diversely varied pieces). They’re listed on EBAY - under - “Mark Stellinga Poetry” - or available by simply contacting me at -- mark@writerofbooks.com -- should those of you who enjoy listening to poems as well as reading them - and particularly those of you that travel - care to be so entertained. (We use safe and simple - PayPal) Cheers, Mark