A Deadly Encounter

We have scary things in Australia!

There are so many deadly creatures

To which our land plays host.

Its seems that in Australia,

Is where you'll find the most.

You may venture into the outback,

But be careful if you dare.

There's a chance you'll meet a monster

That is guaranteed to scare.

 

It comes to life when the sun has set

The wildlife flee in fright.

We call it the Aussie Road Train

It's road kill a gruesome sight.

A nasty encounter of my own

The subject of this rhyme.

I will tell you how it happened,

Blow by blow and  in real time.

 

Around midnight out of the Alice,

With a long long way to go.

I am stuck  behind a road train

That seems a trifle slow.

It is going less than a hundred

But I have a burning  yen,

To make it to Darwin tomorrow

So I need to be doing a hundred and ten.

 

There's a flash of the right indicator!

The sign for "OK to go".

Gentlemen of the road with their own code

Shared only with those in the know.

High in his cab he sees far ahead

And told me it's OK to pass.

I slam it into four throttle to the floor

Gotta get this old  ute off its arse.

 

I steer across those double white lines

It's OK I'm  perfectly sure.

Coz everyone knows that Truckie Code

Stands way above the law.

Now I see the entire road train

With trailers one two three and four.

At least one more than I bargained for

I am in for a struggle for sure.

  

Out of the slipstream catching  the air

The going just got a bit hard.

The poor old ute is bravely fighting

For every hard earned yard.

This process is taking way too long,

I am feeling bit of a failure.

I haven't yet been able to pass

That number four road train trailer.

 

I am saying a prayer to  Brocky,

I know that’s really absurd.

But he'd understand the need for speed

And maybe put in a word.

If there are racing cars in heaven

He is bound to have some pull.

I would like it if my full throttle

Could be just a bit more  full.

 

Trailer three gives a lurch and a sway

So close to my passenger door.

With my wheels already on gravel

I can't move over any more.

I seem to be on a bend with no end

And I  cannot  see what lies ahead.

I can feel the anxiety building

So many questions race through my head.

 

At trailer two I am pondering

Was passing really essential?

I am wondering about this driver,

His integrity and driving credentials.

Was that blinker flash really for me?

The whole situation feels wrong.

Is there another explanation?

Did he bump the blinker  re-lighting his bong?

 

Passing  trailer one with the feeling

That I am in mortal danger?

Am  I in this pickle from putting trust,

In the hands of a faceless stranger?

Could this driver now be showing off

To his brand new lady spouse?

Probably a tattoed charmer,

Picked up at the last road house?

 

Did he give her a shake so she'll awake

Saying "Sit up don't miss this Yvonne

I arranged a special treat for you

I have set up another head on!"

My mind is creating scenarios,

Of only destruction and horror.

None of them include the slightest hint

Of any sort of tomorra!

 

I finally draw alongside the cab,

The  driver too high to see,

With red face horns and a pitchfork,

I imagine him to be.

There's a sign on the driver's door,

Does it really boast Road Toll?

It confirms this road train driver

Is a low life  sicko troll.

 

In a moment or so my fate I'll know

Will my ordeal finish?

He dips his lights I flick mine high

I feel my fear diminish.

There are red and white reflectors

As far as the eye can see,

Not a car or critter on the road

That’s a beautiful sight to me.

 

In the distance on the  horizon

They converge to a single dot.

This wonderful scene so brightly lit,

By my hundred megawatt spot.

Our road train drivers are the best

I’ll stand by my assertion.

Please ignore any hasty remarks

That may have cast dispersions.

 

The name on the door I thought I saw,

Well I might have made an error.

Probably just a dyslexic  thing

In a weak moment of terror.

That company name it is  "Toll Road"

They employ the very best.

Clean living gents atop of their game,

Who would clearly pass any test.

  

But now something's wrong with my old Ute

It is shaking off its tits,

I think it's about to fall apart

Into tiny little bits.

The reason is clearly apparent

When I take a look at the clock,

It’s doing a hundred and forty

And that is quite a shock.

 

That is significantly faster

Than I thought it could do,

So I am beginning to wonder, 

Did Brocky really come through?

I have now slowed the old ute  down

To a calmer hundred and ten.

But wait,  what the hec is going on?

Why are things still shaking then?

 

Oh crap its a case of the  jitters, 

Apparently its only me.

It seems that I need to  pull over,

And make a nice cuppa tea.

I pull up in the next truck stop

My heart still beating fast.

I get my billie from the back,

And wave as he rumbles past.

 

I sit and drink my cup of tea

My knees have nearly stopped shaking.

I am reflecting on my life

And this journey that  I'm taking.

Wise words from an elderly  bushman

Keep ringing in my ears.

A crusty old outback resident,

He’s been around for quite a few  years.

 

He insisted " Follow those road trains,

It is the only way to go.

Let them smack into the camels,

And the odd water buffalo.”.

I encounter another road train,

This time doing ninety nine,

“Passing lane 10 Kilometres”,

Says the dusty yellow sign.

 

So it seems that I can  pass safely ,

About six minutes ahead.

But I don't think I will bother,

Happy to follow instead.

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

Aussie Dictionary:-
=======================
The Alice = Alice Springs (town in the middle of Australia)
Darwin = Bloody hot! (town at the top of Australia)
Ute = Utility Vehicle
100k = 62 mph, 110k = 70mph ,140k = 87mph
Brocky (Peter Brock) Legendary Australian racing driver, tragically killed 2006.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Brock
Road kill = Cheap lunch
Billie = pot for boiling water (and cooking road kill)

Reviews

[Baby Ricochet]

I'm stuck in a traffic jam on I75 right now. I'm not driving

[Keith]

Thanks for reading BR. Hope that traffic has cleared.

[Sirius King]

another great one, the flow, rhyme and story all keeps the reader involved

very nice!

[Keith]

Thank you again Serenus.

[s y e]

This was so cool! I loved this! You added more humour when the tension on the highway was building up, but you had me like growling at me iPad, haha, don't ask why cause I'm not sure, hahaha! XD probably cause you had me hooked at it was getting tense, ha.

It was so vivid it felt like I was there, awesome job!

~ Noodle.

[Keith]

Thank you so much for the kind review Noodle.

[s y e]

Anytime, Keith.

[Rogue]

While the tension in this highway trip kept building, you managed to keep your reader from biting off every fingernail with the clever humor you also added.
This was an exciting and fun piece. Very much enjoyed it. :)

[Keith]

Thank for your kind words Rogue.

[The Girl That Let You G..]

I felt like I was in that good ole Ute of yours with you mate! Gosh, its bloomin awesome to see an australian poet on here, i think my prayers have been answered. :D This was fantastic, and im still laughing.

[Keith]

Thank you Jadey, I was worried people who had never been to Oz might not relate to this. I suspect you saw a few road trains when in WA. After Groote Eylandt we went to live in Bullsbrook about 40 minutes up the Great Northern Hwy from Perth and the road train yard was near our home. I passed them on my way home most nights. Also, fair bit of Aussie lingo in this.

By the way, did you realise David Lewis Paget is also an Aussie? His work is just awesome!

[The Girl That Let You Go]

You suspect right...one of my mothers friends was a truckie, he used to take me with him on some of his runs...those were good times.
Curious, you ever stop in Williamston, that was the greatest truck stop along the highway to Perth. :D
He is...I did not know this
Going to check out right now!

[Keith]

Jadey, I have shoved a few more larrikan Aussie pieces on the Cafe. They might also give you a laugh, last chat it sounded like you needed a lift. Take care.

[Wolfwind]

Being an ex truck driver in the states, I loved this piece! An amazing flow of experience and authentic visual entertainment! Much enjoyed!

Aaron

[Keith]

Thank you very much Aaron, honored that it appealed to a trucker. More misadventures & nonsense to come shortly.

[Marie]

I love your poem about Auatrailia...you made me feel the excitement of this ride...
I will certainly remember about following road trains if they situation ever comes up for me....

[Keith]

Thank you Marie, and please do come for a vist.

[Red Brick Keshner]

So pleasant to the ear & the poetic imagination!
Thoroughly enjoyed & recommended.
I feel like there is a transformation of bush poetry into a contemporary relevance & feel.
Thanks for sharing.

[Keith]

Thanks Frederick, contemporary bush poetry is probably the nicest complement I could hear. My grandfather used to read the likes of “Mulga Bill’s Bicycle’ and the ‘Man form Ironbark’, my favourites were yarns about imperfect lovable larrikins. I in turn I read Lawson, Dennis & Patterson to my own kids. I did recently search for modern Aussie bush poets but pretty much came up with zip. However, I did find David Lewis Paget. He is an Aussie (ex Englishman but they can’t have him back) who tends to turn out magnificent work, mostly with a Gothic theme, but very entertaining. He is on WC.

[Helen Woodward]

I can't help thinking that John Laws would love this wonderfully descriptive piece of work Keith. Your use of colloquial Aussie language is invigorating and addictive to me...of course it is because I understand it all too well. I'll be back to read more of your work...fellow Ballarat Aussie :-)

Blesssssssssssssssssssssssss

[Keith]

Thank you Helen, while I have had some very nice reviews from the US and ?, I suspect some of this would sound strange and make no sense to them. So I am delighted to get an Aussie viewpoint. There are more on the way, rewriting some since I have had some lessons from one who I consider the Master.

[Helen Woodward]

Who is 'The Master?' I'm intrigued...

[Keith]

David Lewis Paget, he is on the WC. An Aussie (ex englishman but they can't have him back). I will catch up next week, now waiting for a flight home. Cheers, Keith.

[TL Boehm]

WOW! Wonderful story. I found my hands clenched on my chair for the duration. I spent the first several years of my working life working for Kenworth, Mack (which also serviced Western Star and Volvo) and International (which also serviced Ford) I have diesel in my blood - but the tractor trailers - they bring their own terror. I was bug eyed and sweaty after reading this! Well penned.

[Keith]

Thank you Tammy, so glad you enjoyed it. It was never intended for audiences outside Australia, so I was worried that people in other parts of the world might not relate to it and turn off. Especially as it is so long.