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My First

My First

Fifty-eight Studebaker
Cream over brown
First car I ever owned
Wheels to get around

Auto transmission
Air conditioning too
And oh did she run
One twenty-eight she flew

Wouldn't spin a tire
But fast on top end
Just the type of car
To race with the wind

I hated when she died
I felt her cry of pain
When the oil filter blew
That day in the rain

No parts to be found
They existed no more
At least for a teenager
Who bagged at a store

I cried as they took her
To the auto graveyard
We'd had so many good times
Saying goodbye was hard

I still think of her
With tears in my eyes
Like a boy's first love
When lost, he cries....
— Rett, Aug 16, 2008

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Southern Texas, USA

Favorite Poets: Dickenson, Longfellow

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Critiques

Barbara Writes

Barbara Writes

17 years 9 months ago

First rides

Smiles:) Barbara My first car was a blue chevete. a fix me upper i rebuid the engine part by part only thing left was the carborator but traded in for new white festiva as the carborator kept getting stuck and it was a week before i could get someone to crank it. my landlord was mechanic, my cousin, my brother in law and friends my daddy always went to. i am impetuous at times.
Rett

Rett

17 years 9 months ago

Isn't it amazing

how much we remember about our first set of wheels? We idolize them almost. *S* Thank you for sharing! Respectfully, Rett: "Life is like a beach. Salty, gritty, somewhat fishy and at other times, downright crabby!" Rett 2008.
Janice Pearce

Janice Pearce

17 years 9 months ago

Rett

Ahhh, we are truly part of the cars we once drove. Brings back memories of my 68 Chevelle SS red convertible those were the days. Nice write here Rett~
Rett

Rett

17 years 9 months ago

I would have given

my eye teeth for one of those! We will carry the memory of that first car as long as we live. Respectfully, Rett: "Life is like a beach. Salty, gritty, somewhat fishy and at other times, downright crabby!" Rett 2008.
D

DarkinAZ

17 years 9 months ago

'76 Nova for me...

wish I had kept her, boy she was fast, then came the Jeep p/u followed by the '88 camaro then the '98 mustang Gt, then back to a Jeep, I love fast cars however I think the 4x4 is more of who I am. I loved this write and the memories it provoked. Your friend, Mark
Rett

Rett

17 years 9 months ago

You sound like me

I can name all of them I owned and loved them all. My favorites were my first one but the Plymouth Sapporo was second in memory (actually a re-badged Mitsubishi) because it was a sweet road car. The vehicle that fits me these days is my Dodge Ram 1500 quad cab 2X4 Hemi. Sweet truck and I love the looks. Respectfully, Rett: "Life is like a beach. Salty, gritty, somewhat fishy and at other times, downright crabby!" Rett 2008.
Barbara Writes

Barbara Writes

17 years 9 months ago

93 4x4 GMC Jimmy

Smiles:) Barbara my hubby traded in a old model S 10 truck, a dodge caravan, an Corsica $200 a piece to junk dealer for crushing, and 200 dollar cash for this a good fix me upper. I get in and drive, ohhh love all that power. The neighbor teen gets in and sit when we go to sleep scared my husband when he saw him get out one morning around 4 am on his way to work. He lock his door then decide to let him sit when in a good mood now they are friends. Offered 1,000 dollars at wall mart same night drove off lot. only had it 15 mins then.
Rett

Rett

17 years 9 months ago

Ahhhhh

Sweet memories. I still regret selling my '72 Charger with the 400 Magnum engine. I bought it for $700.00 in dang good shape.Kept it two years. It had the most accurate fuel gauge I have ever seen. It touched empty you best be at the gas pump because it would sputter once and die. I was putting gas in it one day and a guy drove up and said his wife wanted the car and asked what I would take for it. I said $3000.00 because I didn't think he'd bite. He asked where I lived and said he'd be over in about and hour. Hour later he lays $3000.00 cash in my hand, I signed the title and said bye bye to the Charger. Respectfully, Rett: "Life is like a beach. Salty, gritty, somewhat fishy and at other times, downright crabby!" Rett 2008.
Linda Moses

Linda Moses

17 years 9 months ago

cars

I can remember drag racing my fathers red and white Pontiac convertable a few times. I dont know what year it was, but nobody could beat me, until my brother told on me.
Rett

Rett

17 years 9 months ago

*LOL*

Oh my, your brother was a snitch! Those were the good ole days! Thank you Linda. Respectfully, Rett: "Life is like a beach. Salty, gritty, somewhat fishy and at other times, downright crabby!" Rett 2008.
R

rider68

17 years 9 months ago

Hi Rett

My first legal car, Was a Ford capri 2.8 injection, it was brought as salvage, I set about the engine and gearbox, and a couple of friends did the body work, I still remember cranking the engine for the first time, that purring sound, great memories, Exchanged it for a motorbike,thanks for sharing...... Best Regards Peter ~~~~~~~~~Creativity Is to think more efficiently~~~~~~~~~~
themoonman

themoonman

17 years 9 months ago

legal...

now Peter... what does that imply? bad boy days... glad to see you here.. Richard
Rett

Rett

17 years 9 months ago

Thank you Peter

Isn't it funny how all of us remember that first car? Thanks for sharing Peter. Respectfully, Rett: "Life is like a beach. Salty, gritty, somewhat fishy and at other times, downright crabby!" Rett 2008.
Kailashana

Kailashana

17 years 9 months ago

My first car was 1954 white

My first car was 1954 white Ford hard-top retractable. Remember driving on the shoreway to work, top down, then stopping to put the top up as it was raining.. damned thing wouldn't go down all the way, finished the ride to work with the top flapping in the rain. lol. those were good old days. I also had a red 1969 Firebird convertible, a 1960 white Thunderbird, a 19? forget the year eggshell blue Karmen Ghia. I'd be rich if I had these cars now. Thanks for taking me down memory carlane. ;-) A
Rett

Rett

17 years 9 months ago

You sure would Anna

There is an old man down here with an eggshell blue Karman Ghia. Beautiful car. It could have been a fine one if it had more power! Respectfully, Rett: "Life is like a beach. Salty, gritty, somewhat fishy and at other times, downright crabby!" Rett 2008.
themoonman

themoonman

17 years 9 months ago

Rett...

mine was a 1962 Chevy II, I paid 75 dollars for it.. it stayed broke down most of the time and back then they were easy to work on.. but I was learning.. now they are made so the common man can't fix a problem... ahh.. the good ol days.. if I had that car now it would be worth something... Richard
Rett

Rett

17 years 9 months ago

Yep

Amazing how that first car is always at the back of your mind isn't it? Rett: "Life is like a beach. Salty, gritty, somewhat fishy and at other times, downright crabby!" Rett 2008.
infinite_dwarf

infinite_dwarf

17 years 9 months ago

vroom!

Ahhh, the reflections of our first car.... Unfortunately, I wasn't as loyal to my p.o.s. and didn't feel the affection for it that you portray for yours. I didn't start loving my car until I got a '99 Old Alero GLS. (think Pontiac Grand Am...same thing) That l'il sucker was way cool and nicely decked out. First car I owned outright, too. Still waiting for the days when I can get a '68 Firebird..... ~Jess ---------------------------------------------------- "Just 'cause you have one, doesn't mean you need to be one....."
Rett

Rett

17 years 9 months ago

*LOL*

The Alero was a fine car no lie. My dream is a 66-67 Camaro SS or Z28. Love those cars. Second choice would be a new Dodge Challenger. That car looks even better in person that in pics. WOW! Respectfully, Rett: "Life is like a beach. Salty, gritty, somewhat fishy and at other times, downright crabby!" Rett 2008.
Rett

Rett

17 years 9 months ago

Awesome my friend

Glad it brought back memories. Isn't it funny the way a car finds a home in our memory? Thanks a lot Tom. Respectfully, Rett: "Life is like a beach. Salty, gritty, somewhat fishy and at other times, downright crabby!" Rett 2008.