Joie Ride, a poem written by Eric Burgoyne at Spillwords.com
Justin Lam

Joie Ride

Joie Ride

written by: Eric Burgoyne

@ericinislands

 

Casually syncopated rhythms
of The Grateful Dead escape
from aging speakers
like a teen slipping out a
midnight window

As I coaxed the 60-year old pickup
35 miles into town
deep bass road noise
balancing open-window treble
thinking of grandchildren

Osprey and geese glide
through pristine clarity
tang of salty spring in the air
it’s paradise

Morning sun is bright
not overwhelming
deep colors and fragrance
permeating senses
some think it’s heaven

Nine miles, three pandora
tracks later I notice an
invisible thief has joined me
placidité stolen, clouds darkened

Morning joy taken hostage by
stench of distant survivor’s guilt

Volcanic eruption in St. Vincent
bumped from headlines by
catastrophic Cape Town fires
displacing news reports of
fearsome flooding in Viet Nam

Meanwhile The Dead and I run
weekend errands in Hawaii
The beauty makes it worse

Latest posts by Eric Burgoyne (see all)