Mustangs (a poem)
A Few Words on this poem
Written in my introductory to poetry class with Nancy Johnson. This was actually well received and taught me what happens in workshops. I actually had a fiction writing one the summer before, but there is something about poetry and sharing it with a group that is a little apprehensive and unique. Again, keep in mind, this was in the days before the internet when you had to type things or write them out by hand. Some of the work of the students was still being done on a typewriter.
I had been reading the beats and was sort of inspired by them - mainly Ferlinghetti. I was surprised at the feedback I got and how there were different interpretations to each work that the students submitted themselves. I also recall talking about the poem - I got the image from the Ford Mustang cars that showed a horse running on the front grille. I thew in the glue factor as an animal rights kind of message too - not really intentional. And the 1909 was supposed to discuss the conflict the invention of the car had with the horse and buggy transportation that was still common.
A little silly to explain poems sometimes. But I sure do miss those days of discovering new literature, new voices and being young.
I wish I could go back.
(from my poetry 101 class - 1989)
I went up to the mountains
In my ’69 Ford Mustang
With one of the hose’s legs
Twisted and mangled
Part of it fallen off.
The grille is partially dented
From an accident that happened
When my uncle ran a red light
In Oklahoma City, OK.
But he didn’t geta ticket
From the cop in the bar.
The horse’s hooves pound the pavement
In a mellow rhythm
Like the beating
Of far-off African drums.
Animal
Caught in the crossroads
1909
Fear tears in the horse’s eye
And the carriage is overturned.
In a shack
By the train tracks
Hides glisten of crimson
Torsos and limbs detatched
A sign above the door reads glue factory.
Sure wish I had that horse’s leg…
It’s probably still there
In the crossroads
Gleaming silver
Basking in the summer sun.
Probably sounded like
Diamonds hitting glass
When it fell off
And tasted pavement
For the first time in its life.
Could have been impounded
By the cop
Who hung out in bars.
It’s just sitting there
In some dark filing cabinet
Between K and M
Under L for leg-
Resting away.
Sure wish I had that horse’s leg though.
Horses sure do look funny
Running on three legs.
