Ain’t Time to Feel
The parking garage
is a concrete gorge I circle
looking for a place to rest
my car, my rockstubborn body
my car, my rockstubborn body
that won’t burn up on entry.
It’s like being a comet
—orbiting—and the trajectory
sucks (all that speed, nowhere soft
to land). Your only options: to hit
some planet at random
—orbiting—and the trajectory
sucks (all that speed, nowhere soft
to land). Your only options: to hit
some planet at random
or let the sun have you.
After, I sit in the car a while
with the engine low and let
the cold pass through me,
the cold pass through me,
through the window.
48 thoughts on "Ain’t Time to Feel"
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rockstubborn
Maybe too rockstubborn
Great to see your writing again Shaun….. this line break, pefect.
(all that speed, nowhere soft/
to land) ….
And yeah “rockstubborn”
Nice!!!!
It’s great to see you again too Coleman!
Those garages sometimes feel like a comet. Spiral down the center to find a spot. Dizzying.
They do feel kinda wrong!
Sometimes
sitting is necessary
to realize
which way is out…
Thank you! I agree with that 100 percent
Like what Rudy said! Beautiful ending. Your use of the parking garage and orbiting is effective. Good to see you, Shaun. I always enjoy your work.
It’s good to see you! I appreciate you and your work!
I must second that line break into the parentheses. That whole middle stanza is genius.
It also occurs to me as I write this that a fuller parking garage might mean parking on top, with your car becoming an oven in the open sun, adding yet another layer the poem.
Thanks, Philip! This is true but I hadn’t 100% thought that though I wish I had!
I’m a sucker for a cosmic metaphor. The exhaustion that exists at the end of each stanza mirrors the circling as well. Looking forward to more of your writing this year, Shaun!
I’m looking forward to reading yours too!
Oh, this is fantastic! “looking for a place to rest
my car, my rockstubborn body
that won’t burn up on entry.” You capture the automobile’s and your exhaustion and wear in a vivid moment. Great work!
Thank you HA!
what with reeling from earthly garage to celestial bodies, I can understand the title
I think we all deserve more time! 🙂
Bam, Shaun! I see you are already at it again, filling us all with amazement. Might as well say it for the first time this month, and it won’t be the last: Your poet brain is firing on all cyclinders, buddy. Cannot wait to see what you’ll do this month.
Thanks so much, Kevin. I look forward to trying new things and reading you too!
the art of living
the life we’ve been given,
as always
both simple and profound
Sometimes it could be easier, but it’s ours!
Good stuff, Shaun, as always. Glad to enter the garage of poems with you again.
I could use a tune up–I’m happy to be reading your poems again too!
Giving us an ordinary image with poetry!
Thank you Linda!
Beautiful, Shaun! There’s a parking garage downtown that makes me think of a spaceship whenever I go passed. I love the play of burning up and cooling down. Welcome back to Earth!
Thank you! I circled around a garage again today too 😆
to hit
some planet at random
or let the sun have you.
I feel it. Selfishly, I’d rather you keep writing to the sun and back.
💛 thank you for your kind and generous compliment
Yesssss: rockstubborn
Thank you Pam!
Fine piece of craft, Shaun. Echo rockstubborn. Nowhere soft / to land … sure feels that way sometimes.
Shew it sure does. Thanks so much Bill
Hey Shaun! Most popular man for a reason! Great to see you I hope you’re doing well. This poem went well with my recent viewing of “The Right Stuff” at the Kentucky Classic series. Do you go to those? So excited to be back in the pulse of the town! Happy June!
It’s great to see you too, Jerielle! Thank you! I haven’t made it to the theater in a couple of years since I’m out of town but I do love to go occasionally! Someone told me they’re doing Cabaret this summer and I might have to go for that!
I love everything about this poem, but the line that had the most impact on me today is “Your only options: to hit
some planet at random
or let the sun have you.”! I can feel the utter truth of this line deep in my marrow and my memory. Superb writing!
Thank you, Winter Dawn!
Yes to “rockstubborn.” So good to be reading your poems again. I’m always happy when June comes around.
Me, too, Karen! Thank you so much.
Perfect words in an imperfect world. Your images are so real I felt like I was spinning in that parking garage as I read. A great metaphor for life’s challenges.
Thank you, Virginia! Hopefully: less challenges soon!
Strong start! Always love reading your work. Thanks Shaun.
Thank you so much, Allen–and the feeling is mutual!
I feel that parking garage. Been there
I have been spending too much time there lately! 🙂
Late to the party. I appreciate you being present in this moment. I felt like I was there with you.
Thank you so much, Ellen!