The swish of some passing cars unnerving me still
With the rapid clack of my windshield wipers,
When, suddenly, I felt a most unwanted chill
Like the rapid hiss of a hundred captured vipers.
And I knew, at the worst time possible, my tire
Right front, passenger side, was now a crumble,
Just when my AAA card was about to expire,
So, I steered it to the berm feeling the flat rumble.
I sat sullen, waiting for the downpour to retire,
While several vehicles zip by me at ridiculous speeds
None of them, I understood, stopping to inquire
Why I was pulled over to the side … or my needs.
When the rain finally abated, and I shuffled outside
Four creaking vehicles stopped, offering me a ride!
written October 17, 2021
especially for "Onamatopoeia" Poetry Contest
sponsored by Emile Pinet
[Rhymes checked with rhymezone.com]
I was rolling along
just fine, thank you
until I came across you
Like a nail in the road, you poked a vicious
hole in my heart, and I went flat
And it was a rough ride
for a while there
and noisy, too-
ka-WHUMP
ka-WHUMP
ka-WHUMP
my heart pathetically
loped along
hoping you would return
to fill the hole you’d made
But now, it’s through, I’m over you
I have a brand new heart
and a much more
careful driver
at the wheel
i had a flat tire
drove it all the way from home
lived ten miles away
5/20/18
written words by James Edward Lee Sr.
Copyright © 2018
Blowout Flat Tire At the Cemetery Steer Clear
While on the corner of the street I adhered
A injured open wounded possum peers
Running back and forth so unclear
A loud bang I almost crash seems I have a flat tire
I jacked up my Jeep Wagoneer
Of which my blow out seemed so severe
It's the dead of night it's a bit spooky here
Mists and winds and sour smells
All of this in the atmosphere
The pans and pains of mystery premiere
Trees engulf me come towards me they adhere
I've calling AAA but my cell phone died all's not well
Boo the cat runs across the street seems to disappear
In enchanted visions of scary things dear
Bicarbonated liquid fear
Street flying squirrels gilding over near
10/14/17
James Edward Lee Sr.
In my urban habitat,
On a bridge’s ramp,
Heard a noise like rat-a-tat,
Giving me a cramp.
Taxi driver passed my way,
Pointing to my wheel;
Couldn’t hear, with traffic’s fray,
What miles would soon reveal.
Soon I felt familiar thumps –
Oh no! My tire is flat!
Riding over highway bumps
Tempts rubber to go splat.
Slowly rolled to a garage
Where they made a switch.
Gratitude in me loomed large,
But isn’t life a *****?
Just in case we think it’s not,
There’s plenty to remind us
That even days that hit the spot
Hide havoc, which will find us.
Could have been a whole lot worse
If fate did so conspire;
Still, my day became adverse
When I blew out my tire.
Nothing ignites my temper’s fire,
better than getting a flat tire.
Yes, it is an annoying episode,
when it stops my progress on the road.
I pull over to the shoulder on the side.
Out comes that little black doughnut that I hide.
I prop up the jack by slowly turning the crank.
This vehicle of mine is as heavy as a tank.
The lugs come loose, and I pull off the flat.
Other people whiz by me where I am at.
My hands become black covered with soot and dirt.
Consider me lucky if I do not get hurt.
One more factor becomes a miserable pain.
That is when I change the tire in the rain.
A flat tire can be like life sometimes, when it is on the down side
Like a glass of water, is it half full or half empty
With a breath or two of fresh air, it is ready to roll once again
i drove down
through the parking lot
to take in the art
the act
the crime
a sliced tire
during a movie
i expected anger
madness
rage
i expected
my own emotions
to seep out of their bones
i expected curses
maybe even a tear
i expected murder
but what i got was
nothing
he was leaned up
against all that junk
a heap of machine
and he held her
in his arms
warm
like icicles melting
she had long legs
beautiful
and they saw me
and their eyes
glazed over
emotionless
they leaned there
as if waiting
for a miracle
for god himself
for nothing
and i thought to myself
leaving them there
how the hell did he get her?
how the hell
indeed
as i drove home alone
upon four good tires.