Through the Windshield
Write a poem that traces part of your life story through the vehicles you've ridden in, driven, or loved. Perhaps, begin with a vivid memory such as a childhood ride in the backseat before seat belts were the norm, or the car you learned to drive in—was it freedom, fear, or both?
Think about the first car that was truly yours. What kind of car was it? Where did it take you? What did it witness—late-night drives, heartbreaks, fresh starts, or long road trips with the windows down and music loud?
Think about your favorite car, the one you are most sentimental about, the one that you loved most of all.
Think about one car, many cars, what cars symbolize for you.
Was there a car that stranded you, or saved you? One you named, or one you hated? Have any cars shown up again in your dreams, carrying ghosts, regrets, or pieces of your younger self?
Let the car be more than a machine—make it a vessel for memory, emotion, and motion. Where have you gone, and who were you, behind the wheel?
When you finish your poem, share it with Mr. Linky below. Then enjoy the poems of others who post throughout the week. (Hey, Folks, we all like comments!) The prompt will close Sunday night at 8 p.m. Eastern.
Good morning, Friends! Our season is fall here, except you would never know it. The days are as warm as mid summer, but one thing has changed. It is getting darker earlier. Sigh. I hope that, though days become darker as we head into winter, this prompt might brighten us up a bit. I hope it will be one that we all can enjoy as we reflect on the way an auto / or cars in general have impacted our lives. I had fun with this prompt and hope you will too. (Also hope you will enjoy the music!)
ReplyDeleteHa, sorry, it is not officially fall yet. Fall will begin on September 22....but somehow I always think that when children return to school it is autumn. So we still ARE having summer, despite the shorter days.
DeleteThank you Mary - it is autumnal on this side of the pond too! Jae
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking part, Jae! Ha, though in some respects it seems like autumn, I don't want to wish autumn before its time....as that means winter is soon upon us, the season that I like least.
DeleteThis was a fun prompt, Mary. I could have goneso many directions - the time, when I was three, that my car door opened going around a curve and my mom, who was driving, JUST caught me before I fell out. The time a kid threw a stone at my grandpa's windshield and my GRANDMA almost fell out. The time I travelled by car to California with my then partner, a newborn baby and two boys, and we wound up living out of the car some of the time for lack of money. But mostly the car was Pup and I, going to all the wild places we needed, to survive. The one thing I miss about not having a car now is not being able to get to the beaches and trails that abound here on the esge of the western sea. Now my wheels are a mobility scooter. Smiles. Wild Woman rockets along the sidewalk with a big grin, and a bag of doggy treats.
ReplyDeleteYour poem was so YOU, Sherry! Smiles. But it looks like you could have written a whole chapbook of poems regarding cars in your life! And now, enjoy that mobility scooter!!
DeleteHi Mary, An interesting prompt my mind wandered in a couple of directions but, finally I found some words.
ReplyDeleteI appreciated your poem very much, Truedessa. And I thank you for your interesting and unique perspective!
DeleteThank you Mary, for the inspiration. I guess I went a bit outside the prompt guidelines but, that is where my mind wandered.
DeleteTruedessa, no, you did NOT go out the prompt guidelines in the least!! Nice contribution.
DeleteThank you, Mary. An interesting one... I'll be back to read and comment later tonight. Off to have dinner now... :-)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your poem, Nick! A poem with strong feeling is always appreciated!
DeleteI am so very late in responding to the poems this week, Mary. Flying like a shuttle cock from this place to that. Sigh. It's a wonderful prompt and thank God we once in a lifetime had a car. Generally we either board public transports or rent a car. Smiles.
ReplyDeleteSumana, you were fortunate to be able to avoid having a car, for the most part! Where I live, it wouldn't have been possible.
DeleteThanks, Mary, for this fun prompt and opportunity to get a little nostalgic!
ReplyDeleteJennifer, I loved your nostalgic poem, which triggered my OWN nostalgia!
DeleteI want to thank all of you for your wonderful poetic contributions this week. I really enjoyed the variety. You all inspire me!
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