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Numerous times, while traveling in winter snow storms, Ive felt much compassionfor truckers. They make their living by hauling freight across the country in all kinds of weather. Its a dangerous, thankless job they perform. I have 3 boys who are truckers, and I havent read this to them.

 

Snow Storm

(Whats That Honey? I Love You Too)

 

Snow drifting on the highway; cold penetrating to the bone.

A foreboding and gray, dismal sky; a trucker was traveling alone.

Wipers banging the windshield, beyond the hood he could barely see,

Hed been on the road since morning, now it was after three.

His radio wailed a CW song...small talk from CB now and then.

Theyre closing down I-80, not certain when it would open again.

 

He couldnt see many exit signs, in this mess they all looked the same.

Snow was so heavy on the last sign, it completely covered the name.

Cars stalled along the roadway; he passed a bogged down rig.

Hope my Freightliner makes it tonight, this storm is gonna be big.

 

A diner was just ahead; he saw a dim red flashing sign.

Ill call the little woman, n tell her, I wont be home by nine.

Whats that Honey? I love you too; hug the kids, and tuck them in tight.

This storm is really something, I might not make it home tonight.

 

10 P.M., the storm ran its course; sky cleared and stars shined bright.

Road crews bucking ten foot drifts, saw beams of a very weak light.

Snow covered DANGEROUS CURVE; a guard rail was gaping wide.

In the ravine some thirty feet below, a rig was laying on its side.

 

Whats that Honey? I love you too; hug the kids, and tuck them in tight.

This storm was really a killer, I not coming home tonight.

 

YarnSpinner

copyright 1989

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Wow Yarnspinner, This is a tragic story. The repetition is very effective.

 

I think early in the poem it is a little telly. I think it could be trimmed up a bit. This is just a different perspective.

 

~~Tink

~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~

For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com

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Thanks Tink:

 

Originally the poem was written in this manner. I thought it might appear to lengthy for many to want to read. In this fashion however it is meant to show how singular a driver feels sitting behind the wheel, with nothing more than elements and audio accompaniment. I bundled each segment of his travel conditions to let the effect soak in.

 

There was a time in my youth I wanted to be a truck driver, but life has many “forks-in-the-road”, and thoughts can change several times, before one settles to certain favorable desires. I even flew planes for a year and a half thinking a commercial pilot was going to be my means of income. That too changed,but the experence was wonderful.

 

The original version of Snow Storm.

 

Snow Storm

What’s That Honey? I Love You Too)

 

Snow was drifting on the highway;

Cold could penetrate to the bone.

A foreboding gray, dismal sky;

Covered this trucker traveling alone.

 

His radio wailed a CW song...

Chatter from CB now and then.

“They’re closing down highway I-80,

Not certain when it would open again.”

Wipers banged the windshield,

Beyond the hood he could barely see,

He’d been on the road since morning,

Now it was after three.

 

He couldn’t see many exit signs,

In this mess they all looked the same.

Snow was so heavy on the last sign

It completely covered the name.

Cars stalled on the roadway;

He passed a bogged down rig.

“Hope my freightliner makes it tonight,

This storm is gonna’ be big.”

 

A diner loomed just ahead;

He saw a dim red flashing sign.

“I’ll call the little woman,

"n" tell her, I won’t be home by nine.”

 

“What’s that honey? I love you too;

Hug the kids, and tuck them in tight.

This storm is really something,

I might not make it home tonight.”

 

10 p.m., The storm ran its course;

Sky cleared and stars shined bright.

Road crews bucking ten foot drifts,

Saw beams of a very weak light.

Snow covered DANGEROUS CURVE;

A guard rail was gaping wide.

In the ravine some thirty feet below,

A rig was laying on its side.

 

“What’s that honey? I love you too;

Hug the kids, and tuck them in tight.

This storm was really a killer,

I not coming home tonight.”

 

YarnSpinner

copyright 1989

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