Debating the Sky

My books are available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/stores/Thomas-W.-Case/author/B0CL2RKDGX?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=

I remember Dad behind the wheel,
elbows out, arm resting on the window,
eyebrows furrowed, eyes darting,
hands twitching in rhythm
with invisible opponents.
He often said on the Los Angeles freeway,
shaking his head and rubbing his eyes,
“Boys, I can't see a damn thing.”
Five lanes of traffic
and two sons scared shitless
at what that meant.

I asked Mom once,
“What is he doing?”
She said, “Arguing with people in his head.”
I laughed then.
I laugh now,
thinking about all there is to argue about.
The greedy, the careless,
the cruel, the brutal people
that want more, only more.

Mostly, though, it was on the way
to Hollywood Park
or Santa Anita.
Dad leaned over the wheel,
muttering, gesturing,
convincing the horses to run faster,
turn on the juice in the homestretch,
telling Shoemaker to use the whip
and Pincay to take the inside lane
on the final turn.

I watched him like a scientist,
like a budding poet,
a child noticing the absurd motions,
the invisible dialogues,
the way his lips moved
like he was negotiating with a stubborn wind,
or providence asleep
at the wheel.

Sometimes, Dad drifted lane to lane,
no turn signal, no checking the rearview mirror,
and I'd feel the invisible friction
he was arguing about in his mind.
A swerve here, a sudden pounding
on the brake there,
and I'd think,
he's winning, he's losing,
he's keeping the chaos at bay
with a twitch of a finger
or an angry glance at the sky.

Later, I thought maybe it was the horses�"
maybe he was seeing the race
before it happened,
like a silent jockey,
mapping every stride, every stumble.
Or maybe he was just a man
arguing with life
and the only witnesses were his sons,
trying not to have panic attacks
in the backseat.
Or maybe he watched Inherit the Wind
one too many times.
He always dreamed of being a lawyer.
Debating gave him high blood pressure
and satisfaction.

I can see him now,
that California gray sky,
sitting on the dashboard,
hand out the window,
a conductor of invisible speeches,
making peace with the world,
one argument at a time.

Author's Note

If you’d like to hear more of my work, I recently posted a long-form poetry reading on my YouTube channel — one or two poems from each of my four books, read in a relaxed, uninterrupted session.

You can watch it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY2euFFCXLI

Thank you for reading and supporting independent poetry.

— Thomas W. Case

Reviews

[John the Baptist]

Actually, Dad's mental antics are only a slight exaggeration of what most of us do, whether we admit it or not. A part of our minds needs engagement and indulges in fantasies to achieve that state. The emotional mind will do anything to avoid apparent nothingness.

[Thomas W Case]

So true. Thank you, my friend.

[ETERNITY]

John the Baptist, Great point!

[ETERNITY]

Wow! All the places you've been and all the things you've seen!
And here I thought you were just a corn fed farm boy.
It's awesome the way you make the reader envision as we read.
You're readings are great!

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[JessyJacob]

Hi Thomas,
I see an army knows the value of life then only he joins army and gives life to the nation. When he takes care of life he will never handle car rashly, those doesn't know the value of blood they only muder and kill people for the blood to drink. I know the family arguments fightings when mom cries with angry father who drinks and shout at her, and also scold kids . Those are serious situations but beautiful memories when you turn adult, when we know the family then only we stand for family caring so much . One who is self interested doesn't care about any but self they never live for any and disturbed and also gets disturbed..

one who knows the value of time those only invest their time for their loved ones to return home .. one who doesn't know the value of time they are for sure they can't wait for anything only to target would be to eat away. .

I had life's best moments though I spent with my loved ones for minutes. My parents siblings husband love son in-laws and sister-in-law brother and cousins . I feel like they are my basis i learnt so much from them and had unfathomable love on them and they too in turn.
You are great poet thomas you writing the celebration of those moments with others and reviving the flash of them as if they with them now this minute .

Jessy Jacob ❤️
Nice to see your poem.

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you. Much appreciated.

[Chris Shaw]

The boys on the back seat, I was right there with you, while reading about your Dad’s behind the wheel experiences. Yes, it would have scared me too, the stuff going on in his head. As a driver I can get triggered by other road users, though I do consider myself to be a safe driver. Plenty of action though by others can wind you up like a corkscrew, do your head in. Plenty of detail here and there is so much charity all these years later. Memorable eh? Much enjoyed writing Thomas.

Chris

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, CXhris. Much appreciated.

[Desert Knave]

Strong writing. I am bipolar and do a lot of arguing in my head and traffic seems to do more to trigger it than just about anything. It brings out all my hostilities and fear. ~Jim

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, my friend.

[Vol]

Thomas,
I wonder if your dad was a WWI vet? My dad was, and we'd have all died had we lived in LA. Always too fast, always tailgating, always angry at every car between the car and his destination... I often think it must have serious implications for one's soul to be a warrior who fought in a famous and deadly battle, take human life in the process, then be expected to drive a car in a gentlemanly way. My own head is always full of imagined conversations, discussions, and arguments.

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you. Mine was in WW 2 THANK YOU

[Vol]

That's what I meant... Pays to proofread...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

If memory serves, Pincay rode Secretariat to the Triple Crown in '73.

And I hope all of us will always remain independent.

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you my friend

[red93]

Lovely affectionate word portrait of yr dear Father Thomas - some special magic happens when we write about our dear ones. Exceptional ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Thomas W Case]

I appreciate it. Thanks

[John Sullivan]

Tom, I keep saying it, and it keeps being true. Really hitting the heights, man. Great stuff.

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, my friend.

[FlatDaddy]

This is a wonderful piece, Thomas. It rings so true, I can see it all, cruising down the highway, with you, the wide-eyed, terrified budding poet, letting it all seep into your childish brain, and finally letting it all leak out on this page for us to marvel over. So well done, my brother.

FD

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you. I appreciate you.