Limes, Lemons, Cherries

Have you ever squeezed a lemon before?
(you very might well have and just not realized it).
Each time you grab the steering wheel, you feel determined:
There's no way in hell you're waiting another minute!

A lemon is sure a close call,
and anyone's capable of it - every Tom, Dick and Harry.
Sometimes you don't see it at all,
until you look up and realize it's already turned cherry.

It's a rarer site to see someone squeezing that one,
but there's no doubt it happens now and then.
Some call it stupid, others brave and daring.
Me? I just wanna get out of the car and grab a pen.

Squeezing a lime sounds much more safe.
Feeling a bit less brave, a small price to pay,
for living another glorious day.
But my dad is a different sort all together.
He goes through the entire fruit smoothie, it's just his way.

There'll be honking from behind,
people yelling, "What are you friggin' color blind?
Get off the Bluetooth, man!".
And I'm just sitting in the front seat thinking,
"I have such great writing material, so close at hand".

I'll have my head crouched low
feigning embarrassment, but in reality
this man, driving me, where I need to go
is the spitting image of myself
forty years down the road...
Copyright © | Year Posted 2013

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Hamilton Avatar
May 24, 2013 at 3:51 PM
I found this simply charming its humorous, well structured and thought out. delightful write Linda
Hicks Avatar
May 24, 2013 at 11:05 PM
Why thank you Linda... much appreciated!
Chircop Avatar
May 24, 2013 at 3:31 PM
I can relate to your poem Timothy..When a thought comes in my mind i have to write it anywhere i ll be .I loved the orignal way you described the colours of the traffic lights..very original.Keep writing wherever you are : )
Hicks Avatar
May 24, 2013 at 11:05 PM
Thanks Charmaine! I'm happy for electronic devices, making it easy to write wherever I am. I tell you almost every time I walk my dog I unintentionally arrive back home with at least 2 or 3 good ideas.
Buil Avatar
May 24, 2013 at 9:52 AM
Lol!!! This was so enjoyable to read. You have no idea how many times I think to myself, "I could be writing right now..." My dad is the same though. He's *ahem* a bit aggressive on the road. But I'd be the one cheering him on, haha! Loved this!
Buil Avatar
May 24, 2013 at 1:47 PM
True!! I get what your saying. I'm forever during the night when I'm supposed to be sleeping coming up with ideas and I have to immediately write it down before I lose all that good inspiration. You can't imagine how many random pieces if paper I have everywhere! Writing is truly a great gift. :)
Hicks Avatar
May 24, 2013 at 10:35 AM
Thanks Caleah! Writing is a blessing and a curse... it's because we as poets have overactive minds and can't settle for just mundane spaces in time where we AREN'T thinking too much... you know? Sometimes I wish I could shut it off like flicking a switch... but then I would lost my one great passion...
Lamoureux Avatar
May 24, 2013 at 7:33 AM
I would remove your explanation. Art loses something if you have to explain it. For whatever it's worth I got there without the explanation. Is your dad forty years older than you? Wow he had you late. Pretty good work for a forty year old *lol* fortunate for us!
Lamoureux Avatar
May 25, 2013 at 8:20 AM
Not almost, he is.
Hicks Avatar
May 24, 2013 at 10:32 AM
Thanks, I removed it! I get somewhat apprehensive when I write about something based off uncommon expressions... I feel the need to explain it, but I should have more faith in my readers... lol! And YES my dad is forty years older than (I'm the youngest of four). It is a bit odd, huh? He's almost old enough to be my grandpa...
Van Breda Avatar
May 24, 2013 at 6:31 AM
Oh boy, don't we all do that in our supposedly busy and 'more important than anyone else's time' life. We have that odd name in our country for traffic lights-- we call them "Robots"-- I think it would be a good call for this poem :) Great write as always.
Hicks Avatar
May 24, 2013 at 10:31 AM
Robots, huh? Well that is odd, but I guess not so unfitting...
Sivey Avatar
May 24, 2013 at 6:15 AM
When I read to "squeeze a lemon" I immediately remembered someone talking about "massaging a woman's 'small breasts'" I believe it was a comedian that used that phrase that way, ha ha, oh well, I like your version much better! This was a fun poem my friend, I loved reading this enlightening piece this morning! What a astounding write, Great Work!!
Hicks Avatar
May 24, 2013 at 10:30 AM
Hmm... where is YOUR mind? Lol! I kid... glad you liked! Though let's be clear these are "traffic lights"... he he he...
Manassian Avatar
May 24, 2013 at 2:16 AM
:) Loved this one! Took me a while to get where you were going with this, and yes....sometimes we are just younger versions of our parents. I'm SO like my MAMA...and proud to be. She was an amazing woman! I'm a bit of a daredevil when it comes to driving! Love to squeeze them lemons! ;) That sounds weird too! HA HA HA!
Hicks Avatar
May 24, 2013 at 10:29 AM
You're just chock-full of weird phrases today, aren't ya? HAHA...
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace