Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Poetry and Jack


Sitting around after finishing the day’s writing, I had a little Jack Daniels and listened to some Black Label Society, particularly a song called “Funereal Bell.” The aggression of the music triggered a few poetical thoughts about the days when I used to ride. I jotted them down.


CHROME AND WHISKEY


Chrome flash
When moonlight comes down
And the whiskey runs
Like gasoline

Bang the night
Rubber frictions into smoke  
A V-Four screams
Motor dreams

Flat out
Black pave glitters with light
Heart shifting gears
Into acceleration

White lines
Blur into the empty distance
As my engine burns
Gin and mescal

Learn fast
When the curve comes
Highway and dirt always beat
Flesh and blood


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29 comments:

the walking man said...

An ode to road rash. A paean to days gone by. Well you at least still get the Jack.

Issa's Untidy Hut said...

Great pacing, Charles - it seems to me you're still riding ...

Ty said...

I was going to say what Issa did, that it seems like you're still riding. Plenty of great lines there.

Charles Gramlich said...

Mark, sitting up on my bookshelf as a reward for a good day of work.

Don, maybe a little bit.

Ty, thanks. Sometimes a little alcohol loosens the crusted gears.

BernardL said...

Good one! Shiny side up, my friend.

sage said...

Jack got my attention, Walking Man's comments got me chuckling... "road rash!"

Gina Gao said...

This is an interesting post! I've never had road rash before.

www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Charles, I really dig the last part!!

Charles Gramlich said...

Bernard, I've been shiny side down too many times.

Sage, I've had it twice. Not pleasant. Glad it isn't catching.

Gina, you wouldn't like it, I am sure. :)

Alex, the final truth! :)

Erik Donald France said...

Yeah, man ~! I dig.

"And the whiskey runs
Like gasoline" -- a wonderful
word concoction, indeed.

Riot Kitty said...

That is really quite good!

Prashant C. Trikannad said...

Good verse, Charles! I think poetry has to come spontaneously and I also think you've dabbled in it before.

Charles Gramlich said...

Erik, thanks man!

Riot Kitty, glad you enjoyed!

Prashant, I used to do a lot more poetry. I don't write that much these days but I do like the art form quite a lot.

G. B. Miller said...

My friend, when I saw this poem this morning (5/30) and read the last lines, it inspired me so much that I broke through my block for finding a title for my current novella, which was the last remaining thing to be fixed before I resubmit it.

I now have two viable titles to choose from.

Thankee.

Sidney said...

Cool!

Charles Gramlich said...

G.B., cool, man. Glad to be of some help.

Sidney, thanks!

X. Dell said...

Yeah, you got Jack. I don't got Jack.

Freewheeling days.

Of course, even those of us who never rode would tend to think of our youth that way.

X. Dell said...

Yeah, you got Jack. I don't got Jack.

Freewheeling days.

Of course, even those of us who never rode would tend to think of our youth that way.

Charles Gramlich said...

X Dell, good thing they didn't last long or I would have killed myself.

Oscar Case said...

Very nice, Charles. That Jack brings out the best of times and sometimes a terrible hangover.

Deka Black said...

This need a guitar riff asap

Greg said...

nice one! i particularly like "motor dreams."

Charles Gramlich said...

Oscar, indeed.

Deka, well, I wrote it while listening to music so maybe that fits.

H and H, thanks. I did like that line.

pattinase (abbott) said...

I can imagine those as lyrics to a song as well as a poem.

Charles Gramlich said...

Patti, thankee. It might make a decent song. Probably have to be done by Motorhead! :)

laughingwolf said...

pretty much covers it all...

reminds me a bit of:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVw96wzmZC8

Anonymous-9 said...

I wish there was a way for you to meet the Black Label guys and introduce them to your lyrics. It would make a great song.
Anonymous-9

Charles Gramlich said...

Laughingwolf, thankee for the link.

anonymous-9, that would be extremely cool.

eric1313 said...

Something about spirits lubing the spirit. Even Ovid took note that water drinkers just don't have it when it comes to poetry.