Andrea Dietrich Poet Pantoum

A Lament For Trucker Joe

While driving on that tedious long road,
he feels forlorn. The road goes on and on.
He hates this job. All hope seems to erode.
The old life he enjoyed is all but gone.

He feels forlorn; the road goes on and on.
At times he meets with traffic jams, a mess!
The old life he enjoyed is all but gone.
He faces thanklessness, fatigue and stress.

At times he meets with traffic jams, a mess!
His life is harder than it’s ever been.
He faces thanklessness, fatigue and stress.
The job he lost he dreams to have again.

His life is harder than it’s ever been.
He hates his job; all hope seems to erode.
The job he lost he dreams to have again
while driving on that tedious long road.


For Paula Swanson's Pantoum Contest

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Timothy Hicks April 25, 2013 at 12:11 AM My uncle's a truck driver (hopefully this is not how he feels!). I do feel bad for people that have work that's a tedious chore. I know it's naive, but I wish everyone would be able to just do what they love, instead of work the hours away, and THEN do what they love. Good job on a difficult form though... they are not always easy.

Zzzzz Zzzzz August 4, 2011 at 2:30 PM It is hard being trapped in a job you hate. I've been there. A nice flow to this poem. Love, Robert.

Barbara Gorelick July 28, 2011 at 3:33 PM It a hard life, thats for sure..you wrote about it beautifully..congrats. BG

Linda-Marie Sweetheart July 27, 2011 at 6:14 PM Congrats Andrea on a great win in Pantoum with this wonderful write luv... am not going to be on PS much ..too many problems for me to cope with right now ..not fun anymore...

Linda-Marie Sweetheart July 27, 2011 at 6:13 PM Congrats Andrea on a great win in Pantoum with this wonderful write luv... am not going to be on PS much ..too many problems for me to cope with right now ..not fun anymore...

Nette Onclaud July 27, 2011 at 11:08 AM feisty and brilliant, andie... whoot! ..applause to you for the thrilling win! ..:) huggs!

Carol Sunshine Brown July 27, 2011 at 11:08 AM Congratulations on your win in Paula Swanson's "Pantoum" contest Andrea. Love, Carol

Kabuteng P.Ink K. July 18, 2011 at 7:52 AM Joe sure seems like he has such a hard time driving that truck, I sure can't help but feel so sad for him-- I sure do hope that his company doesn't treat him that awfully, or better yet, that he get to work for a better one, but it sure seems like the trucking companies are the same-- I think this was such a moving pantuom for him-- & thanks for your inspiring words in my villanelle :) I sure enjoyed writing that one-- hugs to you :D

Robert Johnson July 17, 2011 at 2:07 PM Stuck in a truck for hours on end. With no one's heart, his love to send. His life has truly slipped away. This thankless hope has filled his day. Wonderful job with this style of prose Andrea. Good luck in the contest.

Jack Ross Jr. July 16, 2011 at 7:06 PM Catchy, sad, nice metaphores,feelings and emotions. Thanks for your gracious comments on Kissed by a Butterfly.........No not California, had some uncles there. I am old southern man from Dixie, Araknsas to be exact...lots of everything here. Many thanks...Love from Old Jack

Cyndi Macmillan July 16, 2011 at 5:42 PM Dang, forgot to say, "THIS IS SURE TO WIN BIG." I hate this tiny little comment box and would like to erase its little frame! 372 .... now 358 .... Pesky limitations!!! ;-) Next poem: Rant of the chatterbox

Cyndi Macmillan July 16, 2011 at 5:39 PM HOLY SHMOKES! Great work. Lacking the snobbish adverb and adjective heavy overload that can just swallow a good idea and leave it limp. This, on the other hand, by 'keeping it simple' drove it all home (pardon the ? pun ? ). My dear dad (died of colon cancer) was a suit and tie guy who ended up becoming a taxi driver. Hard adjustment, at first, but then he came to love it.Chance to meet people, hear stories, share advice and receive a heart felt thanks. Sorry Joe's struggling! Prayers sent.

Linda-Marie Sweetheart July 16, 2011 at 3:52 PM oh how great is this..first hand experience of a situation luv.. excellent expressions in this piece... awesome as trucking is a hard job and one that requires much stamina..luv.. good luck in the contest.. great one..

Jslambert Mister Roboto July 16, 2011 at 4:59 AM There is a lot to be learned from this piece. You sealed it up nice here. I thought you were calling me Trucker JOE for a minute! LOL. I have been called worse...Ha! Oh, and that Oxymoron thingy is something I wrote one night last week. Though it sounds much like something on the news, or in a newspaper it came from my weird mind. But if you thought it was from the news, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Phyllis Babcock July 15, 2011 at 6:04 PM I guess no one said life would be easy and there are so many bad companies out there. Enjoyed catching up on all your poems tonight Andrea. Been busy so not a lot of writing lately. love phyl

Jack Horne July 15, 2011 at 1:14 PM Very clever write, Andrea. I guess we've all been Joe at some stage

Johnny Sumler July 15, 2011 at 11:45 AM I really enjoyed this write! Goodluck in the contest! Nice the way you portray the inner-conflicts of this character in this task of a form.

Doris Culverhouse July 15, 2011 at 10:58 AM so true....enjoyed reading your work!!

Andrea Dietrich July 15, 2011 at 9:50 AM Just to respond to some of the comments below, Joe is now driving truck because of the bad economy that forced him out of his real love, framing houses. We discovered truck driving to be a fairly reliable field for him to find work in, however, the companies he has worked for are not good people. They cheat the drivers by putting impossible demands on them. Be careful you guys around drivers on the freeway. Some of them are being manipulated into driving over their time limits.

Judy Ball July 15, 2011 at 7:46 AM Well done my friend. This is not one of my fave forms because of the repetition but you did it well. From what I have been told though most truckers love their job and became truckers because they like to travel. God Bless, JB

James Peranteau July 15, 2011 at 6:51 AM Hi Andrea, this write strikes home. My 27 yr. old is a truck driver, he hauls all around the USA and barely spends time at home; three to four days every two months. This will be a good write to prepare him for the end of his carrer, though it may be for some time, preperation is always a good thing ! Great write dear poet ! Have a great weekend...much love, james

Kash Poet July 15, 2011 at 2:01 AM I find this one very touching Andrea..right from the middle of your heart.A great poem.did you show it to him.Best wishes:)

Don Johnson July 15, 2011 at 1:21 AM Joe the driver has he seen, the white line coming, going been, it's ok the driving. Did my time at it:) xo, Don

Iolanda Scripca July 14, 2011 at 9:21 PM Oh, Andrea, I feel for Joe!!! Great use of Pantoum form of poetry. Good Luck in the contest. Hugs!!!

Joyce Johnson July 14, 2011 at 8:06 PM Great pantoum Andrea but I know there is too much truth in this and I am sorry. Everyone who has to work should have a job they love. Poor Joe. Love, Joyce

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