The first thing
I remember wanting to be
was a truck driver
Long-Haul
I set it up in my mind
that I could outfit
the trailer
like a house
The family would live back there
and I’d just
drive us around
I even drew
the layout of the place
one day
Kitchen
bathroom
living room
etcetera
I had no thoughts about
goods to transport
money to be made
or even what kind of woman
would be happy
living in the back of
a moving tractor-trailer
I only knew
that we’d be fine
living our lives
on the road
Well, the world has a way
of sorting out dreams
like that
fairly quickly
I now work five days
in a 6X5 cubicle
cubicles don’t move
and they don’t have windows
But every night
with a clean hour or two
at my disposal
I pull out the paper and pen
crush the clutch to the floor
throw the machine into gear
and drive
Drive
right over
the hard pavement
of life
Drive
right into
the center of the
big lemon sun
Drive
with my family
back there cheering me on
with every passing milepost
The first thing
I remember wanting to be
was a truck driver
Long-Haul
So settle into
your seat
This ride
could
go on
for years
11 responses so far ↓
1 AndrewE | 9 Oct 2006
There’s still time to become a truck driver Robert. Do you have a license? If not I’m sure you could train for one pretty quickly. That would be pretty cool. Hook yourself up to the net and write poetry on your journies across America…yes I can see it now.
2 Robert Bruce | 9 Oct 2006
Watch out for the video on this one my friend…
3 Jecklin | 9 Oct 2006
this is the one, dude!
I can’t wait.
4 communicatrix | 9 Oct 2006
My dirty little secret is that I don’t watch your videos. I like the text, I’m old, what can I say?
But I think I will watch this one. Yes, I do-wacka-do-wacka-do…
5 Robert Bruce | 9 Oct 2006
You guys are too good to me.
And Colleen, you’re forgiven (even if you didn’t ask for it).
6 Kamsin | 10 Oct 2006
Trucking and poetry? A connection I wasn’t expecting to see made!
I don’t watch the videos either, although I’m sure they’re very good!
7 l. | 11 Oct 2006
reading your words is sometimes like eating a very good meal - the kind where i unintentionally make sounds with every bite. mmmmmm
8 Cailleach | 13 Oct 2006
Yep - I agree, this is a good development of a metaphor which holds up right the way through. Driving and the US are forever associated in my (Irish) mind from the movies and from my trip over to SF last year - those long roads that bring you slowly, quickly, from one morphing landscape to another…
Nice one Rob!
9 Robert Bruce | 13 Oct 2006
Kamsin - OK, you’re one of what looks to be a growing trend around here… but glad I can still surprise you with the pomes once in a while ;)
10 Robert Bruce | 13 Oct 2006
l. - Might have something to do with the new oven I just bought. Man, what a comment…. mmmmmmmmm.
11 Robert Bruce | 13 Oct 2006
Cailleach - You would be right on that… we LOVE our machines over here. And the road. Ain’t ashamed to say so.
All kinds of poems out there.
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