the sign said carolina

 

The van was loaded with people
too long on the road and the music
switched with personal choices
until no song ever finished
I was not extrinsic to my brother in law
in the back, still drinking
from a bottle I shouldn't know about
hidden under the seat
My sister coaxed the baby
to some euphoric place that mothers
make when they are desperate
and I watched delirious as the signs
kept pointing out the possibilities
until it was less than twelve miles now
to the state line
Three kids under ten argued
on the middle seat, stroking
their velvet hands across my shoulder
each accusing the other of too much room
rocking rock hard jabs to push each other over
It's sinful, my aunt said, the way people leave
those crops to rot, but I am not responsible
for any business but my own ,
a point that wouldn't linger long
in the antagonistic arid heat
But my sister's low hum in the back seat
crooned over the hot air and sticky backs
where my daughter sitting delicately
on the hard plastic console
kept rocking back and forth to her own beat
finally shouting with excitement
pointing past the trees,
where a peeling painted sign said
Carolina.

Reviews

[Ed Hart]

'Venablese' i love it...you do, you have such a singing voice...oh, such a hill country girl, that knows the touch and smell of things, and sees so surely into the business of life

[Sel Whiteley]

This is such a powerful poem, you capture the idea of journeying, both literally and metaphorically, and are really able to characterise the seperate people on the journey. I love structure and the direct way in which you tell the story is just masterful, the exquisite details in the vivid imagery, "velvet hands" really suggests their softness. I especially liked

I was not extrinsic to my brother in law
in the back, still drinking
from a bottle I shouldn't know about
My sister coaxed the baby
to some euphoric place that mothers
make when they are desperate

[.......]

such amazing detail and wonderful imagery, I really enjoyed your write.

[W.k.kortas]

It's a wonderfully visual narrative, done in the inimitable language of Venablese, and it is a tribute to wonder of place when it's your place. Fine, fine stuff.