Hitch 5: Chills

I thought, almost immediately,
there was strangeness in your car.
You had picked me up early
in the bright, hot morning,
December's heat was full,
but you froze me to the bone.
You were oddly quiet,
but the precious few words that you spoke
may have been
the strangest that I had ever heard.
As your big, lumbering old Merc'
dragged us through the heat,
I surreptitiously scanned the cab
for signs of weapons or weirdness.
My eyes found neither,
but my skin found the weirdness,
it hung thick as a dragon's breath,
you could have cut it with a barber's blade,
and I just about thought you might.
A few clicks down the road,
you ponderously stopped
and I meditatively got out,
no more than fifty yards
from the factory that owned my bones.
I'd hitched a thousand rides
with a thousand strangers at the wheel,
but of them all, you were the one
to make my blood run cold as death.

15th August 2018
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

Poem

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Kgaswane Avatar
August 24, 2018 at 6:45 AM
Hello Lawrence This is a great poem about your experience.Thanks for sharing. Regards Mpho Kgaswane.
Sharp Avatar
August 24, 2018 at 9:23 AM
Thank you for reading, Mpho, I'm pleased that you like it.
Koria Avatar
August 23, 2018 at 8:32 PM
I became very engrossed in the reading of this particular piece, Lawrence. I very much like the subtlety.
Sharp Avatar
August 24, 2018 at 9:22 AM
Thanks Jasmine, glad you enjoyed.
Lamoureux Avatar
August 21, 2018 at 7:49 AM
An enjoyable series. The second last one felt like the last one. You are a good story teller. I pick up hitch hikers and don’t tell my wife because she feels I put myself in danger. I guess it works both ways. It has been many years since I have hitch hiked. I have met some nice people that way.
Sharp Avatar
August 22, 2018 at 10:31 AM
Thanks for reading it all, I'm glad you liked it. And I agree, both hitching and picking up hitch hikers, I mostly met very likable people.
Messina Avatar
August 20, 2018 at 5:24 AM
Great Job with all the hitches, Lawrence! It is a rare occasion to see one with their thumbs out in my neck of the woods these days. Blessings to you...
Sharp Avatar
August 22, 2018 at 10:32 AM
Thanks for reading, I'm happy that you enjoyed.
Michelle Avatar
August 19, 2018 at 3:28 PM
I love the way your words flow together with this ebbing, almost, darkness to them. I'll have to go read the rest of these now! Love, Juli-Michelle
Sharp Avatar
August 19, 2018 at 11:49 PM
Thank you, very pleased that you like it, I hope the rest is okay too. Kind words appreciated.
Pandit Avatar
August 19, 2018 at 6:46 AM
Yes--this ride was chilling..but all was well in the end.
Pandit Avatar
August 19, 2018 at 4:26 PM
You have a special way of writing that is quite appealing..finding truths that we miss every day..hope to see more of your work.
Sharp Avatar
August 19, 2018 at 12:25 PM
I'm pleased that you enjoyed this series, Vijay, thanks very much for reading.
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