wreck on main street

This is not autobiographical

Spring breeze

Cherry blossoms and magnolia blooms

Squirrels crossing power lines

Bells from the Methodist church across town

My neighbor throws seed for the black birds

She waves and smiles before the front door swallows her inside

Suddenly there's a wreck on main street

It's my cousin and she may be dying

Her skin became a bag for broken bones in just a second

Everything that was structure

Is now flowing chaotically inside  of her

The blood in her veins is stoned

And refuses to stay in the vessels

There's a clavicle in her lung now

Unaffected by the cacophony of sirens

A Mockingbird calls from an Oak

He sounds like a squirrel barking

Then he sounds like a Jay

He reminds me of a musician 

Stealing melodies from the air 

And replacing them with interpretation

Out of the blue I crave a cigarette

Count the years since my last one

There are more sirens now

Police and rescue squads and EMTs

But I won't go see

My neighbor comes running outside and screams at me

from her porch

Her birds scatter like leaves in the wind 

and fly over my yard

Their wings pelt the air 

So fast

Like I imagine her heart by now

Pumping blood recklessly

Pumping blood out of her faster than her body can create it

I glare at my neighbor 

I won't bother to explain it to her

She sees her screaming won't make me go see

She stands silent for a moment

Confounded

She gives up and goes back inside

Another neighbor's dog

Noses its way along the road's edge

Its tail wagging lazily

I wonder if it can smell trouble

I text my sisters

I tell them she's really done it this time

Let's see if her mother can get her out of this one

In the meantime I can tell

The rose bushes are going to be really pretty this year

Reviews

[Beccy]

I read this several times over and there is powerful imagery at work here. My minds eye can picture so clearly the peaceful scene you describe in the first verse, which is then followed by the sudden turning of that peace into chaos and carnage. Then through it all we have the mockingbird dismissively getting on with life, whilst you, the narrator, seeming as utterly detached from the scene as the mockingbird, simply watches from the sidewalk; the sirens, the frantic neighbour just by products of an all to common scene that have no real effect on you. The verse about the dog and the casual, throw away line commenting on how pretty the roses will be this year, set the seal on a poem that I became thoroughly absorbed in.

Do excuse me if I've gone on a bit, but I tend to do that when I really, really, like a poem.

Beccy.

[Alfred Kukitz]

You see it in your mind's eye, poetic tragedy, beautifully rendered. You know she at it again!

[LadyAnn68]

WOW...this is really sad and painful...it sears with pain and not knowing what exactly to do at that moment...but crave a cigarette...text family and perhaps cry a tear don the cheek...as you stand and wonder why? Well written..insightful for sure..who knows at that exact moment what to think or do?????

[Claire in VA]

Incredible poem. This is so easy to imagine because unfortunately, it's how life really is.
It's so nonchalant it's scary.

[Shirlena]

I actually read this about a week ago and it felt so sad for me because we all know some young person or people who just don't get it. Most of them don't unfortunately. They always have to use their head to go through a brick wall instead of learning from someones elses bad experience which usually is the reason they make of the majority of fatal statistic...they just feel like they know more than people who have the actual experience...there was a drama about this piece while remaining relative and earthy. Much enjoyed.

[m.s.early]

Good judgement comes from bad experience and most of that comes from bad judgement

[Shirlena]

Now that where we differ, I don't think you have to have bad experiences to have good judgement or vice versa. I do however, see that there are enough bad experiences to go around for everyone to learn from if that want to but some people, mostly younger people, rather go head first into trouble rather than to feel like they are being told what to do or that they are being deprived of making their own decisions when they haven't had experience in making sound decisions about anything nor do they seem interested in developing that skill.

[m.s.early]

I agree. That wasn't meant to be law, just a observation in some circumstances.

My grandfather use to say there were two kinds of people. Those that learned the hard way and those don't learn. I suppose that goes along the lines of "A lesson learned is a lesson earned".

[Shirlena]

Duly noted...but you know what you said did sound good though (catchy) and very philosophical two :).

[Brittany Zedalis]

Oh wow. Just wow. This is remarkable. There's nothing else I can say that would do it justice. Amazing work!

[Mia Sparrow]

stark details of the accident and of the victim are disclosed in a matter of fact stoic manner, even gives the impression of casualness and apathy. it is woven with imagery of nature; how nature continues about her business unconcerned with the accident and the consequences. the narrator seems to focus on the mockingbird's ability to mimic various birds and squirrels as a distraction while their cousin is in critical condition. weaving gory details with the wonder of nature with detachment and a total lack of affect of the narrator is disturbing.great commentary on humanity's moral compass.

[Rita L. Sev]

The details here are what make this piece shine, Xavier. Life's harsher moments, dancing in harmony with the mundane...

[Lyn Anderson]

The juxtaposition of the last line against the stark reality of the poem does it. I hope it isn't true to life, but if it is, my heart goes out to you and the rest ...
note -- you know it is its - when it is possessive -- and I know you wouldn't want to leave it so that is why I point it out.