Howard Johnson’s in Ruins: Syracuse, N.Y.
America
is memories
demolished
upon memories demo
lished
upon memories de
mol
ish
ed
It is suburbia
of vacuum tube TVs
Roadmaster bikes
Howard Johnson’s
d
emol
is
hed
I was a prince then
sitting on my vinyl throne
paper crown ringing my head
feasting on burgers and fries
heir to an America
always under construction
going somewhere faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaast
But America f
e
l
l
crashed at Carrier Circle
ruins of an orange roof
warning land schooners
away from the rocks
America’s debris
f I e l d
(
&8*
$.
£. £
£
$$$$
Gaping motel rooms
naked like old men
expose
me
A TV somewhere crackling
the play-by-play
from
Forbes Field
Mets versus Pirates
me on the floor
plastic batting helmet
on my head
pulling for Clemente
The pitch
The crack …
Back in my car
rounding Carrier Circle
The boy grays in the day
America
will be
demol
i
shed
again.
6 thoughts on "Howard Johnson’s in Ruins: Syracuse, N.Y."
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I love how the position of letters in the words demolish, construction, fell, fast, and the use of $ and £ and &8* creates energy and physicality of movement.
Wow :”Gaping motel rooms
naked like old men
expose
And that ending…
Thank you for sharing your work and for being a part of the conversation about my work.
Had to read this one twice. Absolutely love how it was put together.
That opening:
“America
is memories
demolished
upon memories demo
lished
upon memories de
mol
ish
ed”
Yes!!! The movement you create with these demolished and decaying elements is awesome. I loved reading your poems this month. Thank you for reading and sharing.
Great way to combine content and visuals! Howard Johnson brought back some strange and good memories.
Lee, your poems are thoughtful with a mind to the past–a little prophetic. It’s been a pleasure to read and learn from your work!