Picking a Friend up from Work
Birds and fog this morning, birds and fog,
and the slow skelter of weekend traffic
pulling from their hotel rooms
like loosened teeth. We jumble on the road
together, connect by radio waves to slow
guitar. The days of the DJ are behind us.
Even the newscasters perform ad runs now,
and it’s okay.
The traffic pools around Buc-ees.
I was supposed to be awed
by this wall of beef jerky.
24 thoughts on "Picking a Friend up from Work"
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
The teeth image is tremendous! Skelter is great word choice, and that ending couplet drops one into the abyss. Nice work.
Thanks, Bernard! I appreciate it.
Also love the way the cars pull out like loosened teeth. I had the same reaction when I had my first Buc-ees experience. 😂
It is a very strange place to me, still!
Totally agree with Bernard. Also the title sets the scene for this early morning excursion into middle america.
Thanks, Jim! This poem was a weird one for me
Love this image:
the slow skelter of weekend traffic
pulling from their hotel rooms
like loosened teeth.
Thank you, Pam!
I agree with everyone here. I love the title too. I need to go to Buc-ees but it’s so damn crowded.
I admit, the cult of Buc-ees and the spelling both turn me off of it.
Love that last line — actually love everything about this. Great one, Shaun.
Thank so much, Bill. I was feeling unsure about this one!
Well, you had me at birds. Enjoyed this, Shaun. I learned something new because I had never heard of Buc-ees or the wall of jerky. Lived in the country too long, I guess, and missed all that “cultural splendor.”
Thanks, Sylvia! I wish we had less Buc-ees and more small stores on the state highways myself
Enjoyed this, Shaun. Yes, that “loosened teeth” image is a keeper. I only recently learned about Buc-ees from a friend, and it sounds like one of Dante’s rings of hell to me.
Thanks, Karen. It felt kinda anachronistic to me!
Those last two lines! And I agree with Karen.
Thanks, Melva Sue Priddy!
Love the images here. They keep coming. And “skelter” as a verb is a gift!
Thank you, Dick!
Love this poem! Especially the opening lines:
Birds and fog this morning, birds and fog,
and the slow skelter of weekend traffic
pulling from their hotel rooms
like loosened teeth.
I have no clue what Buc-ees is–maybe someone could enlighten me!
Thank you, Ellen!
It’s basically a grocery/quick service food chain with over 100 of gas pumps and a cult following. They just built one on i-75 exit 83 in Richmond
“Supposed to be awed / by this wall of beef jerky “ is a line I’m jealous of. So good. Ha!
Thank you, Kris!