in, when a stop’s been
abridged to little more than
a pause and a wink at
the romantic thought
pleasant but stony bridges
once came between
coming and going.
They’ve substituted it –
the dirty and rutted
road leading up –
to a smooth black surface,
with a broad white stripe
and a textured mat
of margarine yellow,
hard rubber bumps, that
will teach us, what
shakes us doesn’t have to slow
radials slurping us in through
the drive-through.
Some things are worth the wait,
like the wind-up voice
behind sliding-glass,
and its brandishing hands
eking us our infusion
of copper coins back
and flimsy paper sacks
filled with a rural life
filtered out through industrial
chimneys, then patted
down to a few
salty, groundbeef patties.
10 comments:
Francis, you had my complete attention from title to opening stanza to closing. A wonderful piece of writing, with quite a surreal undertone.
Pamela
I like anything with white stripes in it. Great use of the words. ENjoyed it. Creative.
I've never had a drive-through meal - not something that could live in French clture - but I now know what it's all about, thanks to your clever poem.
It may be in praise of fast food but I'm not sure. Nicely ambiguous.
Very vivid, Francis. I may never steer my way through a drive-through again after reading that. ;)
@Pamela The surreal always seems to sneak up on me :).
@Henry Thanks, I'm a white stripes fan too, especially the band.
@Viv You and the French are much better off without it... It's something that's very American.
@Tilly There are many who are quite fond of the convenience, but I'm not to be counted among them.
@BonneyPoet There are much better places to drive through :)
Francis, enjoyed your thoughts - and they came and went fast. Love "what / shakes us doesn't have to slow".
Richard
@Richard Thanks. My thoughts do come fast and furious :)
Your wordle pieces always deliver, Francis. I love the final stanza. When I ask a classroom of middle school students if they sit down and eat at a table at least three times a week with their family to raise their hands, it is usually less than one third.
I'm impressed that Viv has never been through a drive-through. Wow.
Sorry to read and comment so late in the week. It's been hellaciously busy with the end of a school year nearing, and I thought I'd already visited your piece. duh.
I don't need the waves in your background to make me dizzy...I'm already there. :)
~Brenda
P.S. My word verification is dwine. I'd like a glass of Shiraz.
@Brenda A glass of Shiraz sounds pretty good to me too :). Thanks for the comment, and it's never too late to leave one... I generally assume people are pretty busy.
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