Red Truck RIP
I wrote this poem about 6 years ago after I got into a head-on with a drunk driver. I’m sharing this with all of you today, because I believe, on some level, this experience has lead me to starting StoryKeeping. I hope you’ll enjoy my thoughts.
April 10, 2004
Good Friday had just begun
At half an hour until one
Though late at night I’m wide awake
So immediately I spot this car
Exiting the lot of Cowboy Bar
Must be some mistake I think
But the turnaround never comes
My voice of reason fully shunned; I’m stunned
As approaching Leslie Road I see
This pair of lights squared off at me
These shooting stars increasing speed
Growing brighter, larger, indefinitely
My disbelief quickly hollowing
Nervous system on high alert
As my ’78 truck passes under the light
I bury its brakes with all my might
The wheels lock up
I start to skid
And in this split-second I must admit
I thought this was my turn to go
My arms went up around my head
An improv roll-cage of flesh and bone
Bracing for my trip through the windshield
As I let go my final war cry that would carry me into heaven
And in that flash my cab was bright as day
I must’ve flown a hundred ways
Spinning ’round and slamming down in a frantic moment
Is this my afterlife?
God lift me out of here?
My truck laid down its life for me
That disfigured mass of memories
Force-fed a 55mph Alero
Would never move itself again
The Pizza Hut man runs across the street to ask if I’m alright
“I’m ok, I guess”, I say, surprised.
I’m still here
And I can breathe
And I can speak through my scratchy throat
And I can open the door, barely
As it’s metal against metal
I get out, slowly, my feet touching ground
It’s real; I’m on my own two feet
My hemorrhaging truck spills oil onto Bandera Road
Not far away an unidentifiable mass in the median catches my eye
A crumpled car; two burned out stars
When soon after I hear these precious words
“Get me out of here, I’m so drunk”
My newly -inspired high on life attitude combats inner rage
This drunken fool I do not know but cannot stand
Freshly 21 but instantly imposing lifelong effects unto me
This lifetime of dreams
And nighttime nervous driving
In this lower back I feel each day
An entire life
Almost stripped away
This thorn-ravaged blessing I don’t regret
A sense
A peace
A full respect
My life inspired to the death
That was 10 days before I almost completely severed my fingertip on a tablesaw, an incident that was a huge contributing factor in starting my own business. There must have been something in the water that week.
-Cody