Dream Trip
After a pipe dream courtship
he married disaster. Six months gone
he woke up to
a quick divorce. He untangled himself
on the road to Vegas, where lies went down
like a cup of strong coffee
fast and black in the tarry night,
lounge tunes bleeding in air
sharp as snake-eyed desert light, hope
another bad debt to be written off.
The wind's hand shook
like a drunk croupier, fumbling out
aces and eights
before the martinis, sanding the gas tank,
whistling at graves. The car gave out
before he made Tahoe, when
nothing was left but Jack and shit
and Jack left town. Stars sarcastically
winked when he put his head down
slack on the wheel and slept
dreaming of her, dreaming of then,
dreaming a toffee-striped lizard
and a stand-up owl
laughing their asses off
at punter's luck.
September 2021
posted for
Images: Abandoned Car, author unknown, Fair Use
Lizard © Chernee Sutton-Jurutu Fair Use
So many phrases that made me smile, and applaud. Loved this! Especially "hope another bad debt".
ReplyDeleteThis .. is a delight! No one's writing this one off! I found myself invested in his story, wanting to know more. That talent you possess ...... sigh.
ReplyDeleteOooh! Oooh! Oooh! Every line is great, I would have to quote the whole thing! I used to know Jack (or thought I did, but a lot of people make that claim, right?). Last I heard he was living off the grid somewhere. Especially love that ending image of "toffee-striped lizard / and a stand-up owl" our only audience alone at night in the desert.
ReplyDeleteAs the Eurythmics sang, love is a stranger in an open car, to tempt you in and drive you far away. This poor slob never knew what hit him.
ReplyDeleteI love the wind like a shaky-handed croupier! And the lizard and stand-up owl.
If it wasn't for bad luck he wouldn't have no luck, and the desert is no place for those who shoulda never left home.
Every line and stanza is magnificently crafted Joy! I can feel the loss and hard luck and feel like I have been gifted a glimpse into Jack and where his life has ended up. Some parts made me smile, like Jack and his shit. Love this poem my friend! It is always wonderful to have you join us at the Muse!
ReplyDeletei like the critters in here, striped lizard and a stand-up owl, even the wind and the moon show up to snicker at him, you have a whole universe going. love the mood of it, enjoyed this very much joy
ReplyDeleteSo many lines to love. Seems we do journey with Jack when we're young and end up not knowing "him." Just when you think you have things figured out the ride hits the ditch and you sit in your bruises mumbling, "what the hell."
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite lines in this portrait of a down-and-outer is:
ReplyDelete"before he made Tahoe, when
nothing was left but Jack and shit
and Jack left town. Stars sarcastically
winked when he put his head down
slack on the wheel and slept"
Lively and sharp like a brand new dagger. It sounds great read aloud also.
ReplyDeletenothing like the dead man's hand to light up a drive into never ~
ReplyDelete