Ever have one of those days all you want to do is get away? We all have. So, what is it you like to do when it is time to get away?
For me, it is the open road. I like to snag the nearest Interstate and head that way.
As the miles fall away, the wind whips whatever is stuck in my craw out through the ends of my hair. The breeze is fresh on my skin. It blows the cobwebs out of the brain.
In a week where deadlines loom large, it is easy to get caught up. The to do list seems unending. The cacophony of tasks all clamoring to be the most important.
Mantra was right there to remind me where it is I find the calm with a little poem called Speed.
However…
Speed is also a large warning. See for yourself.
Speed
Leather under my fingertips,
Supple. Run my palms along it.
Wrapped around me like second skin.
The wanton perfume I drink in.
Close my eyes. Feel the power
Surging. Daring me to tame it.
The quiet roar of the throttle.
Whoosh! Genie out of the bottle.
Asphalt fades into smooth concrete.
Swaying. Hug the curves beneath it.
Low in. High out. Accelerate.
Yes, still power to generate.
Wind to the red line, the engine
Whining. The limit. I pushed it.
Popped clutch. Quick shift. Bigger gear.
Another roar I long to hear.
Open road beckons be followed.
Cruising. Wind whips out cares with it.
Speakers blare forgotten lyrics.
Road heat creating gremlin tricks.
Tires squeal in protest with smoke
Curling. Roll leaves road behind it.
End over end. Then fiery blast.
My first taste of speed is my last.
130620122020
~~~~~~~~~~
Angela Young
/ June 24, 2012Talk about an unexpected ending.
Angela Young recently posted..You are the master of your own domain
Red
/ June 24, 2012So, is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Red recently posted..Saturday Evening Post
El Guapo
/ June 24, 2012The answers to all but the first are Yes!
The occurence`of the last cured me of the third.
El Guapo recently posted..Trifextra Challenge – MMMMMM!!!
Red
/ June 24, 2012American statistics say the second MVA is fatal. I make up for 21 people who have never been in an MVA. Still love speed though…Definitely an MMMMMM!!!
Red recently posted..Moroffs
El Guapo
/ June 25, 2012Really? The second is fatal on average?
Crap. That means a whole bunch of folk have died on the first to make up for me.
Based on that number, I’m a decent way on the right of the bell curve…
El Guapo recently posted..Trifextra Challenge – MMMMMM!!!
Red
/ June 25, 2012I prefer to think of it as me taking the wreck for all of those who will never have the first, much less the second.
Red recently posted..What Century Is It?
Valentine Logar
/ June 25, 2012You and me, my girlfriend my sister; you and me.
Valentine Logar recently posted..Family Threads
Red
/ June 25, 2012We are so Thelma and Louise….
Red recently posted..Saturday Evening Post
Androgoth
/ June 25, 2012This poem puts one right into the driving seat where thrills can sometime turn into spills 🙁
I remember years ago when I had my first car, one that I had spent hours upon hours tweaking every look, polished wheels and paintwork, a custom dashboard with dials of all descriptions and… And what did I do one winters evening? I wrapped it straight into a gate post but hey even though the car was a wreck I walked away unhurt so that was the main thing 🙂
You know when one hears how time slows down during a car accident, it is absolutely true as this is what happened to me, and as the car spinned out of control it seemed an age before the impact.
Speed may be a thrilling experience
but it can also prove to be fatal 🙁 🙁
Have a wickedly enjoyable evening Red 🙂
Androgoth XXx
Red
/ June 25, 2012Time does bend right before impact. For once, we are cognizant of precisely how fast our brains work when our lives flash before our eyes. I have walked away in varying states and been carried away a few times. The only one where I was the driver was a rearender where the moron behind be nearly totalled his car on my trailer hitch. I was more worried for his child, who was riding in the front seat, than I was for either vehicle. The behemoth was unscathed 😉
Androgoth
/ June 28, 2012There are some crazy drivers around Red, and you are right about the vehicles, it is flesh and blood that are more important and I hope that the idiots child was okay afterwards…
Some fools just never learn do they Red? 🙁
Have a wicked evening 😉 🙂
Androgoth XXx
Red
/ June 28, 2012He was shaken, and rightly so. He was not hurt, that we could tell, but I did ask him. His father did not. Worm. When we got off the road, and I called the police, I gave the driver a tongue-lashing his (the boy’s or the driver’s) mother would have been proud to deliver.
Cat Forsley
/ June 25, 2012Wow Red – Powerfullllll to say the least …… I don’t drive – never have i ……. But i can imagine it – The surge ——
All i know whilst i am in the passenger seat – i do love the air ——– the music blaring ————– and having my arm out the window – kind of traveling with the wind ,,,,,,
Great Poem …..
When i wanna escape or get away – i put my headphones on …… stationary yes – but i go to another land
xx
Big Hugs
for a bright week xo
Cat
Cat Forsley recently posted..As Sunshine Comes Cat Forsley ©
Red
/ June 25, 2012For me, music is less of an escape because I always here it. It is like having my own theme music 😉 My bedtime song is my favorite. It is the lullaby which beckons me to sleep. I just have to be careful not to hear it when I am behind the wheel…which is less often than in bygone days, since I no longer work outside my home. I make up for it by driving long distances. My commute to home (where I am from and where I shall relocate) is 850 miles from here. I make the trip as often as I can. I have made it seven times in the last two years. {HUGZ} Red. xxx
Cat Forsley
/ June 26, 2012…..wow Red — Poetic……
Yeah i guess music isn’t my escape either – if it means it’s always around me ! lol……..
I am gonna be thinking of what constitutes as my escape all day …….. lol ……..:)
This was a really good write ……..
It’s amazing for me to think of You doing this all from home …..
It’s quite cool how imaginations work ———
i thought you had some office somewhere …..
Kudos lady for being such a supahhhhhh trooopah ……..
xx
Cat
Cat Forsley recently posted..As Sunshine Comes Cat Forsley ©
Red
/ June 27, 2012It is probably because you hear Ray speak of the corner office around here. On a post a long time ago, I asked him if he was bucking for a staff writer position for Friday Follies. He moved into the virtual corner office with the gummy bear machine. The rest, as they say, is history. My virtual high rise was erected and the permanent recess ensued!
So what escape did you finally contemplate? See, MJ’s post really did work for you, eh?
Love muches,
Red.
xxx
Cat Forsley
/ June 27, 2012Contemplation ?
It’s Now and forever will be spoken word poetry xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxooxoxoxoxo
love you Red
I tried to respond earlier – but it said something – server error …
i am sending you a necklace i found ——– 🙂
with a scented pancake 🙂 xoxoxoxoxoxo
love xoxoxoxo
always and always and always
http://tinyhandsonline.com/necklaces/179-scented-pancake-necklace.html
Ton Chat xoxoxo
Cat Forsley recently posted..What Do You Say Heart ? Cat Forsley ©
Red
/ June 27, 2012Thank you for letting me know about the error. It is tied to the WP login, which is rickety right now. Ugh.
The necklace is adorable!!! How very interesting it smells like maple syrup! I have been making jewelry for years. I tend to work in microbial glass beads and semiprecious stones. Love love love to escape into the beads…but for tonight I think it is yarn holding my attention. Hoping my hands play along…rough day of the typing. You can read about it tonight…with the latest WP foul up, it went live tonight rather than tomorrow 😉
Many <3 <3 <3 Mon Chat doux.
Bisous!
Red.
xxx
MJ Logan
/ June 25, 2012Mom’s 69 Buick
350 engine
Youngest bro in the passenger seat
Speedometer pegged at 120
Not sure how fast really I’m going
LOTS of throttle left.
20 miles passes in under 10 minutes
Got to try it
Floored.
Tranny kicks down for a moment
pressed back in the seat
I’m sure my guardian angel requested overtime pay throughout my teenage years.
MJ Logan recently posted..Feeling the Need for Speed
Red
/ June 25, 2012The long list of muscle cars in my past nods knowingly with a grin to your mother’s Buick.
prenin
/ June 26, 2012I think I’ll stick to virtual speed thanks!!! 🙂
Given my track record – one fatal accident every eight races – I do not think I’d be safe on the road!!! 🙂
Love the poem though! 🙂
Love and hugs!
Prenin.
prenin recently posted..Monday – A walk to the Co-Op
Red
/ June 27, 2012Oh, my! Do let us know when you are behind the wheel, so we might stay from the sidewalks! ROFL! {HUGZ} Red.
Christy Birmingham
/ June 26, 2012Oh! I completely understand what you mean by this post! The deadlines are fighting with one another to be picked first, pick me, pick me! Great poem Red.
Christy Birmingham recently posted..Tunes With Tuesday: Just a Phase, By Incubus
Red
/ June 27, 2012I like that interpretation, Christy! So very glad to see you tonight. The Muse this week applied to you for a while…
Tom
/ June 26, 2012This has a dark ending, Red, a very vivid warning indeed. I don’t like speed myself, and stick to what I feel is safe… however, just because I feel it is safe doesn’t mean that I’m not travelling at speed. A warning like this is always welcome at anytime; as long as it isn’t too late…
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Red
/ June 27, 2012I try for timely 😉 Glad you stopped by for this one.
spilledinkguy
/ June 26, 2012My wife is the same way… she really likes road trips. I like ASPECTS of them… like being able to see new places / photograph new things, but there’s so much for me to worry about the whole time I find it very difficult to relax and do just that. I’m always thinking about what’s going to fall apart on the car… or all the art projects I’d like to be (in my mind need to be) working on. I guess I can’t get over this recognition of limited time and what I hope to do with it…
🙂
spilledinkguy recently posted..A Little Hole in the Wall
Red
/ June 27, 2012LOL! I am not the worrywart. I am the driver. Funny, that. I am going to marry a race car driver. Not sure if we are going to flip a coin or just take turns. We do great as a tag team, but have yet to be across the open road together. Hmm.
As to what may be undone, I make arrangements for it to be done in my stead or refuse to feel guilt for being human and doing what I can do and nothing further. Sanity is to fragile a commodity to be diddling it with thoughts of what is being denying in the name of enjoyment. Life is far too short for that.
Red.