Best Highway Poems
Midnight rides—his pulse aligns with the thunder beneath him
fingers tracing her curves polishing fire into steel.
Wind against his skin she sings beneath him once more
Saturday mornings spent bathing her shine in devotion
One last glance—wait for me—before stepping inside
his grip firm not on the world but the rhythm of her frame.
The highway fades yet she alone knows the way home
rain or shine she waits unwavering at his door
Twilight drapes them in gold two shadows stretching as one
beautiful chrome heart racing—her name dissolving into the wind.
The storms are raging on the rollin' sea, and on the highway of regret
Yes, I played around, was unfaithful to you, I'd change it all you bet.
I truly loved you with all my heart, but I tried to act all cool
I'd stay out partying all night long and now realise I was just a fool.
I'd get in, go straight to bed and stay in there till noon
You'd come in from work as I was going out and I'd say "I'll see you soon"
I went to a seedy club one night, when I should have been home in bed
Your sister tracked me down that night, I'll never forget what she said.
"Susan has taken an overdose and she's been rushed to A and E"
Those words were like an electric shock and it was all because of me
We finally got to the hospital and I was in such a terrible state.
All your family were there crying by your bed and I knew we were too late.
Your dad said "John you're not welcome here and its best that you leave,
Please don't come to her funeral and find somewhere else to grieve".
I went back to our empty house and I just broke down and cried
And it hit me that the way that I'd treated you is the reason why you died.
I spiralled downhill very fast and quickly turned to drink
My mind was in a turmoil; I couldn't focus to even think
I lost our house and all my friends and I was sleeping rough
I wanted to end my useless life because I'd had enough.
Folk at a local church took pity on me and slowly I got well
I found some purpose with my life and escaped my living hell
I still have some bad days though and I know I'm not there yet
And on those bad days I slowly walk on that highway of regret.
Written February 12th 2020.
For Poetic lines 3 - love Songs Poetry Contest.
Sponsored By Silent One.
The first line of this poem-The storms are raging on the rollin' sea and on the highway of regret is from the song- Make you feel my love and the credit goes to the writer of the song- Bob Dylan ).
Life has many highways, one needs to travel them all. One highway took me by an old Victorian house, I did hardly recognized her was she really me. Weather~tattered~worn, was I looking into a mirror. As I have gotten older, I think of my body as an old Victorian house. Once pretty and lively, filled with happiness and joy. This old Victorian body now needs repairs: a new roof~new hair do, fresh paint and shutters~lose some weight, the lights need to be turned back on~put more joy into what I do, fix the yard up and get rid of the weeds~some new pretty clothes. My old Victorian house has a new look you see, looking like she did when she was twenty-three.
Date Written: 1/20/2023
4 Place
blind minions do not hear
deaf disciples cannot see
callous subzero frozen feelings
breed gibberish jarring jubilee
this bloody blind-eyed messiah
rode to town astride an ass
belching barking oratory
for an aimless lower class
a starry-eyed astrologer
alchemist extraordinaire
summoned shrouded quatrains
revealing he baffles with a flare
loitering lotus-eater
puppeteer par excellence
self-indulgent Machiavellian
pitched fabricated arrogance
adroit and ambidextrous
he summons the mercurial mass
conjuring decrees and fairytales
dictating his rules pass
lose not a bloodied hammered head
resign yourself to a running retreat
le guillotine administers
swift sweet and replete
no man speaks of that not heard
or sees that left not read
bony fingers point with indigestion
reflecting in fractured mirrors
Posted April 18, 2020
I drive the night because of open road.
My retreads are sounding strong.
Hauling cars up from New Orleans
Where I'm not sure that I belonged.
Traded whiskey for a woman
At a bar in Abilene.
Then the pedal down up to Portland town
Helped along by methadrine.
There’s a lady there in Stumptown
She dances on the pole
Makes her pay in dollar bills
She's never ever home
Daylight fades and night descends
Men come, await their fate.
She sucks them dry and infects their soul,
Relights her lamp and waits…
She goes to church on Sunday.
Always comes in late.
She says a prayer, she sheds a tear,
puts food stamps in the plate.
Dropped my load down at the docks
there's a motel by the sea.
Homebase for my Peterbilt
That's parked out by the tree
Called her up, the kids are home.
I hear them laughining on the phone.
Grandma says she"s not around,
But she'll tell her I'm in town.
“Yea. tell her I'm in town again
And kiss the kids for me,
Gotta leave on Tuesday”.
Hung up and fell asleep.
The phone rang in the morning.
The call was short and sweet.
She had some things she had to do,
Didn’t think that we could meet.
Fueling up, the fog horns moan.
Red pills to feed the beast.
A woman left back in the fog.
A white line headed east.
Look at my life
Some say I've sinned.
My dreams were blown away
By the cruel ...
Highway Wind.
I woke in the backseat ‘cause sleeping is what I did - -
I hid when we had a many state, family vacation ride.
Daddy said that this time, we would drive straight thru five.
Mama’s hair back was smashed headrest flat cause Sis
pressed against her and they were sleeping like that.
Brother was pressing his back window with his face,
his nose smearing glass, his amusement surely in place.
Dad was focused on a radio baseball game.
Seeing all was good, I found my travel toy case
for safe car play. In no time, pretending took me away.
Soon, noise-crazy frightening, sound attacked and blurred.
“WHAT IN THE WORLD!” was Dad’s first reaction heard.
A lot of horns HONKED with urge, several SWERVED,
two almost BANG converged, others FLEW off the road.
Sirens blared, well-lit, brakes were hit, Dad cussed a fit,
Mama and sis stirred. Mama murmured something like ‘absurd’,
While Dad let loose the worst of his really bad, ugly words.
Quickly, I let go of the toy I was holding out my window.
Who knew Slinky's at eighty miles per hour weren’t simple?
Then, without uttering a single concern,
I faked sleep as though I’d never emerged.
For hours my parents could be heard wondering
what had caused traffic to be so disturbed
and thanking God our family wasn’t hurt.
Every bend in the winding cliff road
Brings a new vista, a new post card.
Crashing waves that beat on ancient rocks..
Depth of emotion that leaves you breathless.
It brings an appreciation for life,
Begs to find the truth that allows peace.
It carries you to another dimension...
The past, present and future meld as one.
Walk awhile in the demanding surf,
Hear the ocean roar its ancient secrets.
Accept the grains of sand that cling
Like they did a thousand years ago.
For me, no other place can reach out
Allowing the vastness of spirit to soar.
Time and the minutia of life slips away...
Healing wounds, and giving perspective.
Hurdled is life’s highway to every milestone:
Detours, traffic woes~ impediments to goal,
Perturbing in hindrances that endlessly groan
Searching exit ramp to soothe anguished soul.
Though memories of yore, of pain bemoan,
Benevolence of today vows to mold morrow,
Prodding fate of future~ opaque, unknown,
Defying grievous intents in ill-will of sorrow.
Wished for earnestly, life is a cherished dream,
An exuberance of spring, of burbling stream,
A meaningful exploration of endearing theme;
Mystical, phenomenal, halo of mirthful gleam.
Life is a fleeting dot on scale of eternal time,
A journey of courage, yet harbinger of fears;
Gracefully revering the echoes of lifetime,
Whether reveling in joy or lamenting in tears.
Rejoice in life’s sunset, rejoice in life’s sunrise,
Greet charming smiles, yet ignore not its sighs,
Celebrate spring’s birth, mourn autumn’s demise,
Cheer life’s welcome, dwell not in goodbyes.
January 26, 2023
Placed 1st: Pick-A-Title, Vol 34 - Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Edward Ibeh
Will you take a ride with me on an unsaddled pony,
past the dusky copper kettle glow of Gilead pond?
Two young, carefree kids wandering barefoot..
far as we can see the fields stacked in hay, our highway
The Summer sun we'll chase away to the end of days
'til the dark, moonless forest voices call.
No lightning lights Vega's face, not even your hand
catches Cassiopeia's distant glance.
Can we return one day to bottle cap mysteries untold,
down the long lost dusty finger of Birdie Galyan Road?
Our lives are long highways of twists and turns.
Some signs may delude us, point the wrong way.
There are no roadmaps to aid as one learns.
Our lives are long highways of twists and turns.
There's no surety we'll get all our yearns,
Happiness or sadness, random each day.
Our lives are long highways of twists and turns.
Some signs may delude us, point the wrong way.
The Winding Highway
It’s a long and winding highway
that’s leading one to Heaven’s door
But worth all the twists and the turns
afore reaching celestial shore.
Quote - Poets own
Spiritual health is one's wealth
Without God one's world falls apart
Those who deny Him become lost
And don't see the light for the dark.
What’s good for the spirit is when
One works hard to sustain wellness
To love with wondrous work of art
Eyes, voice and heart reveal it best.
There’s bound to be times when it’s tough
Whatever disasters may do
Put a smile on your face with grace
And walk with God’s yoke upon you.
Enjoy God's gifts along the way
What's meant for you will come to you
Whatever is to be will be
Life is a magnificent whoo.
There'll be a welcome in Heaven
When your life's walkathon is done
Waiting patiently there for you
Will be the Holy Three in One.
* * *
25th November 2021
“W” New Poems Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Constance La France
Theme chosen - No.7 “Winding”
Speeding along life's highway
With the scenery flashing by
Must stop and smell the roses
There's more than meets the eye
We miss the tiny intricacies
Subtleties that mean so much
Life's delightful wee treasures
The warmth of a babies touch
A gentle breeze at daybreak
Welcoming a brand new day
Puffy white billowy clouds
Trees as they swing and sway
Life's a highway, enjoy the ride
The end comes far too soon
As you look for it's hidden meaning
You reach life's final swoon
Reflecting back over the years
Of the good times and the bad
You realize it's been a blast my friends
Thankful for the life you've had
With heartaches and some sorrows
To get through it all unscathed
Is nothing short of a miracle
In your memories you're left to bathe
I have a superhighway in my front yard.
It appeared in the night.
As if by magic.
Ants are traveling along it
Whistling a tune I think it is a Maroon 5 song
But I am not sure
Some say I should get rid of it.
I am fascinated by it a superhighways
Begun with one giant wad
Of pink gum.
Ant traveled
Highway One California
Lovely and so cooling, was driving my
1956 Chevy Bel-Aire ragtop!
Its whitewall tires, its heavenly hubcaps.
Just stunningly gleaming!
That magnificent red and white convertible!
With joys, so profoundly thrilling!
June 2, 2019
7pm PST
_____
Dedicated to my parents, who gave me this
car on my birthday. Thanks, Mom and Dad for
letting me "Drive My Dream!"
Life is like a highway with many a perilous twist and turn!
Alas, not all roads are straight and narrow, of that for which we yearn.
Many are the detours we must take traveling life's fleeting bourne.
Though the road be strewn with potholes, these are hazards to be borne!
When nearing a "Y" in the road, it might be well to gently tap the brake,
Or even stop to contemplate the fateful decision you're about to make.
"If I take the left, will it lead to a life of misery - such a terrible blunder,
Or if I take the right, might that enhance my ultimate fate, I wonder?"
Many are the warning signs along life's highway that must be heeded!
A miserable and unproductive life will surely ensue, if they go unheeded.
Perhaps a few U-turns will be needed to make corrections along the way,
But a well-planned route will ease the stress to keep from going astray!
A compass calibrated on things above will guide you to your destination.
It will keep you focused on life's itinerary through trial and tribulation.
Life's treacherous highway will be rife with blind spots, curves and bends.
Clear judgment is needed to cruise life's highway and the risks it portends!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
© All Rights Reserved
Placed No. 4 in Kim Merryman's "Life Is..." Contest - September 2012