Vince,
two years now in Phoenix, but back for a visit,
on the road downtown,
cursing the streetcar tracks pulling at the tires of his SUV,
his sister’s truck really,
but on this morning my ride to work,
door to door for a change.
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He,
lost in directions,
the distractions,
the attention paid to pilot this broad beast
through the fitful city traffic,
while I sink back into my soft untroubled trip,
past the crowded streetcar stops without stopping,
dreaming of the day ahead,
my only responsibility now
and for the next twenty minutes
to keep the conversation
moving forward.
two years now in Phoenix, but back for a visit,
on the road downtown,
cursing the streetcar tracks pulling at the tires of his SUV,
his sister’s truck really,
but on this morning my ride to work,
door to door for a change.
lost in directions,
the distractions,
the attention paid to pilot this broad beast
through the fitful city traffic,
while I sink back into my soft untroubled trip,
past the crowded streetcar stops without stopping,
dreaming of the day ahead,
my only responsibility now
and for the next twenty minutes
to keep the conversation
moving forward.
Photo by Lee Friedlander, from America by Car.
For other writing inspired by this image, visit Magpie Tales.
For other writing inspired by this image, visit Magpie Tales.
Vince, two years now in Phoenix, but back for a visit, on the road downtown, cursing the streetcar tracks pulling at the tires of his SUV…
ReplyDeleteThe passenger doesn't have to worry about city driving.
ReplyDeleteNice!
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel
This is nice. Great description of commuter traffic.
ReplyDeleteI think there's much more to yours than just traffic, too. Thank you.
ReplyDelete"To keep the conversation moving forward." Some (me) would find that the harder task.
ReplyDeleteLove this.
i must agree with Kay and Thingy... nice take!
ReplyDeleteJJRod'z
Passengers always get a peaceful ride if they don't try to be a backseat driver... :) I like the contrast of tension with the harried driver.
ReplyDeleteWow! I'm officially a fan! Thanks for the visit to my blog!
ReplyDeleteAlways much more fun being the passenger!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed that, it had a kind of lyrical quality to it.
ReplyDeleteJamie
heh nice...you put us right there...and yes there is much more than traffic and perhaps my job becomes tuning everyone else out and just getting there...smiles.
ReplyDeleteGood for you. I'm always nervous in traffic and would rather be driving myself:-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up on my blog formatting, I think I fixed it.
Ohhhhhhhh - I love all the layers in this - so much more than just being on a commute.
ReplyDeleteWonderfully well written!
ReplyDeleteVery nice write, I enjoyed reading it... If I was the driver in such conditions I wouldn't mind if my passenger had nothing to say. :)
ReplyDeleteYou know, keeping up a conversation can be a challenge if all you really want to do is sit back, relax, nod off, dream! I enjoyed your poem!
ReplyDeleteSometimes riding shotgun is a treat...
ReplyDeleteI rarely get to ride shotgun and I agree with Tess it is a treat. Don't ask me to keep the conversation going because I'm too busy checking things out.
ReplyDeleteI like the pull between the passenger 'while I sink back into my soft untroubled trip' who has no responsibilities and the driver 'cursing' 'lost in directions,
ReplyDeletethe distractions, '
Love two views of city traffic...I can relate to both
ReplyDeleteNice! A lot going on in this little vignette.
ReplyDeletei'm always a passenger vince. nice piece. steven
ReplyDeleteThat's a fair exchange: You drive I talk :-)
ReplyDeleteInteresting take on this Magpie!
Keeping the conversation going, I think, is a heftier task than navigating the traffic :) Nicely put.
ReplyDeleteTalking and driving is not the best idea...
ReplyDelete