Peter Lewis Holmes Poet Free verse

The Road Into Hoi An

it's broken, the tarmac's crooked,
and it's full of gaping mouths,
and you have to dodge them, 
to save your wheels,
and God!...Jesus! the stink of 
fly-blown fish hits you like an
honest politician;
in the nose and mouth:

and you want to parachute away, 
into the gaping mouths and your 
dad's best memories and the 
stories he told;

then relief comes, in about a half-mile 
down the road; and you pass the tall 
palms and green feminine rice fields,
which like a girl, smell good;

and if you want, you can touch and fondle 
them, and they won't slap you or make you 
feel small, or say "honey, let's have a ball!"
so your'e free to carry on, into town;

and you say cheerio to the feminine fields and 
gaping mouths, as they lick you with their 
thousand country tongues:

and then you hit the city; and  everything changes.

♡Like0

Share 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

John Fleming February 21, 2015 at 1:35 AM Forgot the "Seven"! I rarely mark poems...unless they are either exceptional writing or of important content. Yours have a lot of both in them. However, what marks yours out from the rest of us is the grim, stark, reality of it all. You do not try to dress it up. It is as it is...just ham and eggs...here you go buddy, eat it up - take it or leave it! I like that in a person. Keep on writing Peter...the world needs to hear your poems...whether they like it or not!!! :) john.

John Fleming February 21, 2015 at 1:24 AM These poems you write about Vietnam are absolutely riveting!! The suspense that hangs off every bough, hides behinds every rock, peeks out from every bush. The little moments of great natural beauty - moderated by the horror and sadness - made just about bearable with little moments of grim levity. Peter...honestly mate, they are compulsive reading!! Your friend always. :) john.

Viv Wigley February 21, 2015 at 12:28 AM Great writing- gives a real sense of place. Don't leave me hanging in suspense- get writing about the city!