Night Driving

just impressions of the highway at night

A melody forms from the voice using a calliope of words

Sounds plucked from fresh strings providing

a screaming couch to the voice's song

Ahead, orange and black scream 

warning to my eyes, slow, 45...

cars whiz around me;

 dolphins playing with the whale.

I move in heavy speed

screaming along with the tires

and the song.

Author's Note

photo by Scott Bradford "Off on a Tangent" http://www.scottbradford.us/files/2008/06/night-highway.jpg

Reviews

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

I adore dricing at night, the dark reveals the most disturbing and brilliant things.

[Mark]

I think it would be enlightening to take a drive at night with you. Unless you're a crazy driver ;P

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Not crazy but I gesture quite a bit so be ready to grab the wheel!

[Coyote Poetry]

I like driving at night. The road is wide open and our mind wandered to odd places. Photo gave life to the words. Thank you for the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[Mark]

thank you my friend for reading and commenting.

[Jack...]

Mark, this one will be around for the long haul. I have never driven a big rig like this but I can feel your poem. Very well done.

[Mark]

thanks Jack, it actually started out being about rock and roll, but then it morphed on me lol I listen to hard rock a lot on late night runs. Keeps me awake.

[Jack...]

I listen to hard rock all of the time Mark...awake or not.

[Mark]

LOL I knew there was a reason I liked you. :P

[TL Boehm]

caught this in the feed today. I started out my "Career" as a service writer for a John Deere outfit, then worked for dealerships - International, Volvo/Mack/Western Star, Kenworth/Ford and finally Fruehauf - I have such respect for those "Whales" and have tried to pound it into my mancubs that you MUST treat whales with respect - I've seen what happens when peeps get stupid around 80k of hurtling, diesel fed metal. Wonderful metaphor and imagery in this.

[Mark]

yah, I think some sort of education about 18 wheelers should be mandatory in Driving Education courses. People just do really stupid stuff in front of me all the time! thanks for reading.

[quinfinn]

i drove 18 wheelers for 9 years....i felt this one right down in my core....nicely penned.

[Mark]

Thanks quinn... did I know that you were a brother? I don't remember discussing that with you. I've been OTR for 3 years now, just bought my own truck in May. I like the life, though it does get lonely.

[quinfinn]

i think we briefly touched upon the subject before....i did otr and local for many years...drove everything from a model R Mack to a 23 jammer jimmy. to a (my personal fave) 9 speed pete...hate cab overs and hate flatbed hauling....

[Mark]

I've driven a 10 spd pete, volvos and frieghtliners. I bought a freightliner just cuz I didn't want the payment for a new truck and the company I'm with is pretty much exclusively FL trucks though they recently have leased some PB's to test. The volvo was my favorite, it was more driver friendly then the other trucks though the FL Cascadia I have now has the Detroit D-60 engine. It rumbles like a big jungle cat and pulls like crazy.

[quinfinn]

i liked the white/volvo okay, but given the choice, chose a pete...much more pull and greater comfort, plus, a good air chair makes a huge difference. i never did the o/o thingy...too expensive.

[Mark]

ya everyone says it's too expensive ROFL it IS expensive... trucking is expensive, but I make more than twice what did as a company driver AFTER expenses so it's all good. Plus, I can refuse routes without repercussion. My rig, my fuel so I only take routes that make me money.

[Angi]

Mark, this put me right there wih my brother as he drives his big whale down the highways. He sends me pics from the driver's seat, too. Angi~

[Mark]

who's he drive for Angi? Be funny if I knew him. :)

[Baby Ricochet]

I love highway driving at night. It's the best time to drive

[Mark]

totally agree. Used to take trips from Sacramento CA up to Spokane WA. We always left around 9pm and I'd do most of the driving. Once the sun came up the wife would take over.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Nice portrayal of driving in the dark Mark. Just stay awake will you; that whale is a killer!

[Mark]

Thanks John, I love driving at night because there is less traffic; I do tend to get sleepy. I always pull over and do jumping jacks or take a nap if I have time though.

[Frieda P]

I assume you're the whale with your big truck, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. I felt this one since you know I lost a good friend who was killed while driving his truck at night, they think he fell asleep. Brings back a painful memory this.

[Mark]

So sorry to bring that back to you

[Frieda P]

It's fine Mark, I'm always reminded how my partner blamed herself since she kind of nudged him to take on that extra shift for the money, sad really, just be careful my friend.

[Mark]

Wouldn't want to be just another nightmare for you

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

This was nicely done in terms of concept and imagery...the idea of driving at night, radio blasting, weaving in and out of traffic; this is something I have done many times in my life.

[Mark]

Thanks, I love driving at night as long as I can stay awake! :)