Turnpike Poems

I remember the thaw 
when I headed South to crawl 
through Carnegie's tunnels 
in a Saab that would stall 
in the mist or the rain 
Spring, Winter, and Fall-- 
O I remember the thaw 
and the chance of a change...Read More

where narcissistic assumptions are presumed
to be a priori and default perfect
in so far as we estimate ourselves
in the slightest vaguest
single point mirror ghost called I
this is the grand knock me down delusion
when we are a many named one
meanwhile actual levels...Read More

Driving home for a visit long overdue
 along the NJ turnpike, the Delaware, straight away I flew,
down to Baltimore once more while leaning on the horn
 scenery consistent and familiar with the road weather worn.

The exits looked unfamiliar, tolls now...Read More

My eyes screamed as the blinding yellow light latched itself modest self upon me.
Why?
It happened so fast—so unexpectedly.
At first, my mouth watered as the taste of peppermint fermented on my tongue and the scent of jasmine danced in my thoughts....Read More

SILENT ROOSTERS SLEEP

Dads don’t sleep.  They drive over-packed cars, and sip coffee from a thermos cup. Kids in backseat mull over grandma’s home ~ roosters never move, cuckoo clock never quits, and grandma’s always at the door, waiting. Front...Read More

Sleet on the turnpike
in the middle of the night 
but I keep driving,
both hands on the wheel,
nowhere to pull off,
and a yellow bus
comes over the line
and kisses my truck.
That's all I remember.
Now I'm in bed,
wired to things,
unable to move,
listening to...Read More

Grouping here to plan retreat, 
the redcoat officers smelled defeat: 
the boards complained beneath their feet, 
on entering Wright's Tavern. 

They game was up. They understood. 
All that remained was noise and blood, 
and limping back as best they could,...Read More

So after I told the crowd
in the store that I was
not Dolly Parton,
they quickly went away
disappointed and forlorn like,
going over to the dairy
to pick up some milk,
tried to stay calm as I
noticed pictures on
the back of the milk cartons
of my...Read More

The chilly North Pacific:
we build a fire for the moths,
a lamplight. Their wings, angry
with flames. Sky: dim and small.

In your standing stillness, you are
an old clock
that has run out of chimes.
The small hours of the past,
a fossil, a nerve. I...Read More

Replace this heart of soiled sedition.
This junkyard filled with ugly treason.
Forgive, o Lord, embattled reason, 
at the turnpike,  chosen left ...off course.
His smoke went up with no remorse,
where my jealous hate, my brother slain,
branded brow the mark of Cain.

Now...Read More

A hound bus in the maintenance garage
But it was the thief thinking in his own barrage
When the workers weren’t around
The Thief stole the bus without making any sound
The Hound’s slogan, “Leave the Driving to us”
The Thief’s slogan, “Steal the Hound...Read More

I went at the back at
The most deserted place in the camp
The sun was silent as I am
It slowly descended at the western sky
Red fiery disc
Wane in front on my face
I told myself
God could you please
I think
This very soil on...Read More

I went at the back at
The most deserted place in the camp
The sun I went at the back at
The most deserted place in the camp
The sun was silent as I am
It slowly descended at the west
Red fiery disc
Wane infront on...Read More

Snow Falls.

The street is loosing its battle from the skyward white invaders.
It steady quite rain,
White blankets its white, fluffy, frozen cleaner across the hardened frozen road below
punctuated  by its crisp air and consistent  advance.
Millions of little invaders landing...Read More

It's raining I look at my window and wonder is it wrong to think so fondly of my youth,
Is it wrong to keep on looking so tenderly back to younger days to my ‘once upon a time,’
An old fool, a...Read More

New Jersey was just a pass through state
From Boston to Myrtle Beach
Just a turnpike in our rear view mirror
Before the final destination we could reach

We never gave her a second thought
Only stopped to get some gas
Every time they said we...Read More

He turned twenty-one on that beautiful fall day
Driving to his home from college, he got an early start on his way
The father who raised him since his mother died at his birth
Wanted to have his first beer with him that...Read More

If you want to drive instead of fly in a plane,
your trip to Florida can start north in Maine.
The quickest and most efficient traveling way,
is via the Interstate-95 highway.
There are plenty of motels and places to eat.
A journey along this...Read More

This crazy zoo
It makes us blue

To at least hike
Up the turnpike!

Same thing to eat
Needs to be beat!

What to do is pace
Mind is stuck in "race"

And the other thing is sleep?
About enough to make me weep!

How we want to find the...Read More

Yo Lauren,

From faith, to fugees, to fantastic lyrics against abortion and the senseless
extermination of black babies under the guise of family values making slave prisons for
profits.

I know your heart, as it spoke to a young brotha with a baby on...Read More

 An empty silence, a lost void of agonising soullessness. Stuck between the right and 
the right knows. So full of spirit waiting for the brightness of the day. Tick tock, Tick tock 
comes the marching band of stillness, waiting...Read More

Falling faller everlasting pain
Storm does grip the saddle sad reign
Underneath the Thunder strike
my own self is down around the old turnpike
The Heaven above is Crying Tears
Her emotion is strong..I have not felt her in Years
Early dusk with pavements Splash
It will...Read More

In a rural country vale
Aylesbury's forgotten tale;
A steeplechase from memory gone
The four mile hunt from Waddesdon.

Twenty  weighed in at the White Hart,
The old windmill the place to start;
Riders,famous and well-heeled
Racing across ditch and field.

Each carrying twelve stone seven
The starters...Read More

Stepping through its beaded door
was like walking into a time cloud, 
whiffs of marijuana and hashish pipes
lined up by color in the cabinet 
to the right, behind which stood
a hippie and his girl, with beads
and long hair, who lived in...Read More