deelilah

Oct 17, 2009 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

Beware the Lady

Beware the lady driving the big truck
who rolls her rig onto the great artist’s
canvas, painted at sunset in red orange,
bruised by dusk into purple and black-blue.

Edges of field and road meld to gray pools
while day’s end stalks last remnants of color,
forcing orbs to bend like eyes of a cat,
night now visible for all God’s creatures.

Watch out for the lady over the road
who drives deep into those cavernous hours,
lost in the stars, content in her own thoughts,
talking pure trash to the man in the moon.

Warning lights flashing: construction ahead—
slow to forty five, thirty five, merge now.
Godspeed she wishes to angels on high,
perched on the edges of silver-lined clouds.

Think twice about the lady truck driver,
la femme caught up in the rhythm of jazz,
drunk on the sad sounds of sweet clarinet,
pan flute’s sigh, loving the piano man.

Into a night mist the cello’s voice fades.
Water splashes large onto the window;
ice chunks fall out of a lightning bright sky,
rain blowing wild, sideways, big truck slowing.

Think again about that lady driving,
easy, when the road keeps on going straight;
but for hills and curves, ice and snow and wind,
still, there is time for dancing with the stars.

Curve left, curve right, shift down, and down again—
brakes, nice and easy, shift up, let ‘er ride.

— deelilah, Oct 17, 2009

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Northwest USA, USA

Favorite Poets: E.E. Cummings, Robert W. Service, Emily Dickenson

Critiques

Seren

16 years 7 months ago

Dear Deelilah

My ex-husband is, and was a trucker when we were together ... I remember taking the driving over so he could rest on night and driving onlong the coast between Ballina and Byron bay ... it was a clear night and the road followed the ocean ... and the moon was humungous ... you just reminded me of it with your talking to the man in the moon line ... hubby was asleep and it was just a special night Yanno ? ... thanks for the visit of memory ... keep on trucking Deelilah nothing hotter than a woman that can handle a big rig ;) love and higgs bugs Jayne x x x

deelilah

16 years 7 months ago

So good to hear from you

Jayne, I am glad to have brought back that special memory for you. For me, having the ocean in this picture would be awesome. We don't get that opportunity very often. I hope you're doing well. I appreciate hearing from you. Always, Deelilah

Ink Dragon

16 years 7 months ago

Yay, Dee!

This is a perfect self-portrait, I can picture you in your truck (dancing with stars, listening to music, yet concentrating hard). And I'm with Jayne: nothing hotter than a woman who can handle these big machines ;) Yours, ~Nina

deelilah

16 years 7 months ago

Nina

Your messages always make me smile, and I appreciate the high marks. I do a good bit of daydreaming---make a real effort not to do it when there is traffic. I do slip away on occasion, though. The other day, I passed an exit by 10 miles before I realized it. Luckily, there were two ways into the destination. Always, Deelilah

lyz

16 years 7 months ago

Great One

You trucker lady you. lol. I enjoyed my ride with you, very descriptive and exciting. You must see some beautiful sights in your travels, as well as some strange, but you and the road become one and free at times and it sounds like you really enjoy it so keep on truckin. Love Lyz. XX

deelilah

16 years 7 months ago

Hi Lyz

You are right. At times there is a great sense of freedom, especially at night on a smooth road with moon and stars out. I am glad you liked the ride. Yours, Deelilah

Candlewitch

16 years 7 months ago

Dear Deelilah

What a magnificent look into your life you have given us. And what a life it must be. I bet you really turn some heads. It was hard to pick, out of so many great lines, but these are my favorites: Watch out for the lady over the road who drives deep into those cavernous hours, lost in the stars, content in her own thoughts, talking pure trash to the man in the moon. Keep on keepin' on. Always, Cat

deelilah

16 years 7 months ago

Hi Cat

I am so glad you liked this. Sometimes I really want to portray what this lifestyle is like, because it is different, at times pretty hard, but at times, exactly like I described it. And that is one of the reasons I'm hooked---can't think of what else I want to do (besides write). I guess I'd rather be doing it in a big motor home, but for now this works. Did Edge like it too? Always, Deelilah

orgami

16 years 7 months ago

Woman in motion

I still watch trucks at Seventeen and Eleven because my brother in law drove a ford 9000 with turbo and I rode once and on the road got three rides two independent and one company driver who was independent And had an Uncle who drove for Manitoulin he did the super rig with two trailers (Cab-over with space behind sleeper) And ex freind drove stateside (Macks) Volvo Sterling Freightshaker Peterbuilt Mack Kennelworth Autocar a few names I used to know and see on the road Up here we have Quebec just a few miles East and a lot of Rigs are tricked up real nice Lots of pulp trucks Chip trucks Minning floats etc Ive seen everything go by including tanks for the army I remember driving from Yellowstone towards Ohio in the van and at night just the fm radio bringing in songs while everyone slept the windows open The highways and freedom of some of the states is incredibly wide in places and super congested in others I can just see you riding high in your rig listening to your music the vision from that wide windshield All the gauges glowing and switchs clearance lights I watch U Tube every now and then to watch truckers videos of them driving Its a real art form to pilot and back up those magnificently large machines and its music to listen to them gearing up and picking up momentum from the traffic lights first off All the livery colours and chrome and designs and huge loads a beautiful descriptive poem

deelilah

16 years 7 months ago

Orgami, my friend

'I can just see you riding high in your rig listening to your music the vision from that wide windshield All the gauges glowing and switchs clearance lights I watch U Tube every now and then to watch truckers videos of them driving Its a real art form to pilot and back up those magnificently large machines and its music to listen to them gearing up and picking up momentum from the traffic lights first off All the livery colours and chrome and designs and huge loads.' Your description here captures the feeling as well, in a different way, as the poem. I'm going to have to work out another one based on those images. Your so right about the differences between traffic areas and the wide open spaces. However, there is something very neat about driving through a big city in the dead of night when there is very little traffic. That's one of the best views, skyscrapers, and bridges, and waterways, and reflecting lights. I'll have to work one out on that subject to. Always love seeing you here. Yours, Deelilah

Seren

16 years 7 months ago

Dearest Deelilah

Congrates on Spotlight ... roewwwww femme fatal truckie poet damn woman LOL well done :) Big love and hugs Jayne x x

deelilah

16 years 7 months ago

Jayne

You are so funny. I just love to hear you talk. On the spotlight---I missed that phenomenon, damn. Must have been a fleeting moment. Thanks for noticing and commenting. Yours, Deelilah

Rett

16 years 7 months ago

YAY Deelilah

A gear jamming femme fatale, running lights ablaze, Georgia overdrive building speed for the next hill. Awesome read! How was my language use? Really good use of language painting your picture of the road. How does this theme appeal to you? It appeals to me a lot since I drove a truck (only a 10 wheeler semi) for awhile in my youth. I had a half brother, a step dad and a brother in law that were over the road truckers. Is the internal logic consistent? The logic was consistent throughout. Great write! Respectfully, Rett: Come and join in for Neonight, October 27, 2009 at 8:00 to 8:45 PM Eastern time. Meet and talk with the AEC chair, Andrew!

deelilah

16 years 7 months ago

Rett

I'm glad this appealed to you. It's great to see you here. I am going to try real hard to join Neonight. It should be very interesting and fun to have a group talk like that. Yours, Deelilah

Ailill

16 years 7 months ago

Good imagery and good use of

Good imagery and good use of words.. It painted a picture with words.

deelilah

16 years 7 months ago

Dear Ailill

I haven't met you before. I looked at your profile and I think you might be new. Welcome, and I'm looking forward to getting to know you. I'm glad you found me and that you liked the poem. Yours, Deelilah

seabhac

16 years 7 months ago

Brought a great big smile

Thanks Deelilah great image that poem aroused, the rhythm of the poem like the hum of the engine on the road, just great. Well deserved in Spotlight. Your excellent Avitar I have always liked , well done. Seabhac

deelilah

16 years 7 months ago

Dear Seabhac

Your comment brought a great big smile to me as well. I loved the way you compared the rhythm of poem to hum of engine---there's another image to work with. Thank you for the compliment on the picture. I think it might time for some winter clothes. I like yours as well. I will have to drop in and check out your work. Thanks again, Deelilah

Janice Pearce

16 years 7 months ago

Beware the Lady

Dee, Thanks for the trip.Your descriptions brought me there! _____________________________________________________ Income-tax forms should be more realistic by allowing the taxpayer to list "Uncle Sam" as a dependent Anonymous

deelilah

16 years 7 months ago

Hi Janice,

I always love it when I can take you on a trip that you enjoy. Thanks for visiting and commenting. Yours, Deelilah