Gas Station Boy
By any account he was a sturdy boy
leaning against the gas station wall
-his scent,
wafting the just born morning- mix
of gasoline,
this morning’s cologne and yesterday’s
sweat, from
when he left the station to chase that toddler girl
who wandered while her mama was
fixing her lipstick and
making eyes at him – just one of
countless pairs of eyes –
that traveled his lean body – smoldered with that shocking hunger –
that traveled his lean body – smoldered with that shocking hunger –
He was a sturdy boy – baby fat
turning more muscled each morning
in this lazy launch across the fluid terrain
in this lazy launch across the fluid terrain
toward manhood-looming,
in the endless fields of waving
wheat into the distance,
paving his untraveled road –
as he, toothpick jaunty and
threatening
whistled a jovial timeless tune,
one
leg leaning against the concrete wall
in the just born morning, inhaling
the rising sun and himself and
feeling something inexplicable uncurl within
like a jungle cat, stretching strong and agile
already flying across the amber fields -
setting his still planted feet against that quiet wall
twitching, toothpick trembling
already flying across the amber fields -
setting his still planted feet against that quiet wall
twitching, toothpick trembling
against a tidal wave of need
rising - roaring silently
across the quiet cool
morning
rippling the wheat fields
washing him as he stood
soaked in irrepressible urge
to
run
run
soon
Pearl, this is a wonderful portrait of an adolescent on the verge of manhood. The details you included made him come alive, and you made his urge to run palpable. The wordle words got lost in your poem. If I had not seen them below, I wouldn't have realized....
ReplyDeleteThe soon is always the sticking point isn't it..could picture and inhale every inch of this piece..
ReplyDeletetwitching, toothpick trembling
ReplyDeleteagainst a tidal wave of need
rising - roaring silently
across the quiet cool morning
Young heart of a lover boy is all the while immersed in recollections of feelings of love. They would succumb to natural tendencies, certainly. Great write Dr Pearl!
Hank
Excellent!
ReplyDeleteZQ
Wonderful piece of writing, Pearl. Brought me right there into that very moment.
ReplyDeleteI can see him clearly, and love "in the just born morning."
ReplyDeleteWell detailed write Dr.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful profile of the boy/man on the brink of his future. Simply excellent!
ReplyDeleteWhat is so great about this is the atmosphere you create with the clipped rural style and that urge that many a reader would have had to break free from the chains of the mundane. He hasn't seen the world but he wants it nevertheless.
ReplyDeleteWonderful poem and you capture the restless of the person so perfectly
ReplyDeleteVery vivid!!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done; love your images.
ReplyDeleteSeems too to be a common experience for the butcher shop boy, and the paper boy, and the grocery delivery boy, and the pool boy, and the lawn care boy, and the . . . . .
ReplyDelete