The muscle cars have aged out
of high school hamburger stands
and live in landfills
or junkyards
but some survive.
The codger across the street in the end house
keeps his in pristine condition,
replacing its parts, babying its body
in ways he can't do for himself.
I see him rolling out down the street,
into youth,
joy,
music,
health,
until he rounds the corner
and disappears.
_____
I see a lot of older men pouring their passion into expensive rebuilt older model cars. The cars look very spiffy - and expensive.
ReplyDeleteThat's such a cool counterpoint - the car vs him. And the ending! It feels so loaded!
ReplyDeleteAge calls us in a way we can't resist to the symbols of our pasts, and all the little trinkets of memory. Here we see one that is alive in the material world, and that can actually move and exist in a coexistent present, a thing of power. As always, filled with insight and the poet's eye.
ReplyDelete