Salt Water Girls In An Old Chevy Truck
.
Pammy Wammy
is the queen
of carburetors
and axle grease.
.
She knows how
to rev up
that dusty
blue tank.
.
Son, we love
her truck with a
rattling passion
.
with a crick-crack
of the dashboard
.
pouring oil
throwing bolts
.
and 98 degrees of
rolled down wind.
.
Neither law men
nor horny boys
can catch up with
.
our sun tan legs
bouncing on
hot vinyl seats
.
in time to the
Allman Brothers.
.
Just a couple of
saltwater cowgirls
on high tide roads
.
with one eye
on the potholes
and two fingers
on the wheel
.
downshifting
fishtailing,
slinging mud
in our wake.
.
Yessir, honey,
that old mule
will take us
across the state.
.
It won’t matter
if we break down,
Pammy Wammy
just cusses under
the steaming hood
.
til she gets her
blue smoke
rolling again.
.
Rev her up and dump her, son!
.
You’d better
believe us,
Cappy Jack,
cause we ain’t
.
coming back
.
til the fat lady
tells our mamas
.
and we cat drag
our sorry selves
through the door
.
reeking of no good
.
lies between our teeth
and a bunch of stories
we’ll not admit in court
.
even if a .38 Special is held
against our pretty heads
.
even on our deathbeds
even if that old truck
ever breaks down
for good.
.
Julie Buffaloe-Yoder
.
Oh! Fun! This makes me want to put on Daisy Duke shorts and take off! Love these lines:
“Neither law men
nor horny boys
can catch up with
our sun tan legs
bouncing on
hot vinyl seats”
and these lines:
“cause we ain’t
coming back
til the fat lady
tells our mamas
and we cat drag
our sorry selves
through the door
reeking of no good
lies between our teeth
and a bunch of stories
we’ll not admit in court”
Well, obviously, I could quote the whole thing, but I think you know what it says! I love it all!
I think you and Joaquin should take a little roadtrip. Can you imagine that?
This is hot Southern fun!
Hi, Karen. Thank you! Yes, a road trip with Joaquin sounds like fun. I could use one right about now…shew! I hope you’re having a great week.
Julie
I honestly believe that you are the best narrative poet I have ever had the pleasure to read. I really like when the page opens and there is a new complete story done with such economy and clarity.
You have an outstanding sense of timing matched only by your humor in your written work. I am really envious (;-]}and in awe of the talent you have.
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Thanks so much, WM. Your words mean a lot to me, because I really do admire what you do. I’m glad we had a chance to meet in cyberspace. One of these days, I’d love to get to Detroit to hear you read. -Julie
Another stroke of genius from the queen of poetry! Loved it from start to finish, but especially this:
“and we cat drag
our sorry selves
through the door
.
reeking of no good”
Been there. Done that. Wish I was there again and you took me right back (without the repercussions). Hah!
Kat
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Hi, Kat. It’s so good to see you. “Without the repercussions” is hilarious. Those darn, pesky repercussions…ha! ha! Thanks so much. -Julie
98 degrees of rolled down wind
Gritty and vivid and I feel the bouncing the grumble of the engine the sense of freedom, the hot wind in my hair…
Come by my place and check out my jungle, tell me if it hits you like this hits me.
Chris A
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Hello, Chris. Sure thing. I’ll be glad to visit when I get back home this afternoon. I always like to be able to devote time and thought when I look at peoples’ work, so I try not to do it on the fly. This is turning into one of those flying days…ha! Thanks so much for the good words. -Julie
What a ride!!! This is awesome. Better than Thelma and Louise.
Thank you, Technobabe. Much appreciated!
as soon as i finished this i had to read it again – while listening to “ramblin’ man”.
and again, i’m blown away. i’m sandwiched between “sun tan legs”, shaking as she’s “throwing bolts”, smelling the “98 degrees of / rolled down wind” – and i’m sure i’ll regret it, but not enough to make me want to be anywhere else. “hot southern fun” is right – served up on a popped hubcab!
i can’t tell you how much i love these poems of yours – the stories, the characters, and the heart and soul they’re drenched in – the clear and rough-edged voice you find for each of them.
in this, i love the playful wink and wicked smile from these cowgirls to everything they’re supposed to be wary of, and the feeing that the only things holding that rig together are gum, duct tape and crazy – flirtin’ with disaster. wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a molly hatchet tape knocking around under the seats
Hello, Joaquin. Molly Hatchet! Oh, yeah! I had The Outlaws in there, too, but then I thought that was a little obvious. Ha! Ha!
Thank you a million times for your good words and encouragement. Every week I come on and say “thank you,” but it doesn’t feel like I’ve thanked you enough. I look forward to seeing what’s new at your house!
Hi Julie,
I just got back into town. I love the poem! It’s nice to come home and “read” friends.
Hello, Annie. It’s great to see you. Thanks!
P.S. to everyone – I’m sort of running this week, too…please excuse my slow response. Will return soon to chat more. Have a good one!
The final reminded me of “Thelma and Louise”, though it may not be any direct relation to the movie. Great story.
and good luck in your enterprises (or whatever you’re running for
)
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Hi, Ana. Thanks so much. I didn’t think of Thelma and Louise, but that’s a great comparison (though a different ending…ha ha). It makes me wonder what movies with strong female characters there are out there, especially without a love story angle. Hmmm…good food for thought.
I’m home finally and catching up. I always feel a bit bad when I don’t talk as much in the comments. I enjoy everyone’s comments so much. And thanks again for yours. Have a great week. -Julie
Hi Julie
You do great voice. I love this. It was absolutely fun and bright in an overworked week.
Hi, Brigindo. You sound like me…ha! This week has been a bit of a whirlwind. I’m ready for some weekend fun. Thank you!
I agree with TWM regarding your talent for narrative poetry. There’s always something in your stories that make me smile.
In this one:
and we cat drag
our sorry selves
through the door
gives me more than action in a story, but a feeling as well.
Hello, JR. Thank you! I’ve done the cat drag many times…ha! ha! I still do, depending on the situation.
This is so damned gritty and sassy – and what a perfect title!
Hi, Michelle. Thanks so much! I hope you have a great weekend:)
Ahhh, Julie!
What a wonderful story… again, you have outdone yourself. Those spunky girls, the mud flying from their tires, the vinyl seats; so many great bits of detail to complete the image! Fun stuff!
Hi, Rachel. It’s Friday night and time to go for a ride…ha! ha! I hope you’re having a great one. Thank you!
I loved the spirit of “her” blue smoke rolling again! It was fun to read this one.
Hello, swapna. It’s great to see you. Thanks much!
Your poetic tales are so vivid. This one reaches into my past because a best friend was called “Pammy Wammy” by me {and I just about fell out of my seat seeing that here!} and I was called ” _______ W_______” by here (each name rhymed but out of respect for her ID, I can’t say my name here, nor the nickname.) That was a “road trip” down memory lane, although our antics had nothing to do with trucks!
If you get a chance to stop by, you’d probably enjoy the post just before the current post, because the current post is mainly just photos not a writing post. The one I recommend reading (that is true…) is called “Guts or Nuts.”
Have a great weekend, Julie!
argh- by “her” it should read above on my comment. (so many typos when I read blogs half asleep- well actually any time!)
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Hi, Gel. Thank you! No problem at all. I hope your weekend is beautiful and fun! -Julie
They have to be wearing cowboy hats! I love every line of this poem. The narrative makes me feel empowered. This poem makes me want to wear a tube top with overalls to the mall. Another fabulous poem, Julie. Too many perfect lines to even begin to quote, they all grab me.
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Hi, Christine. Thanks so much. I especially appreciate it, because I know how busy you are these days. I’m rooting for you, sis:) -J
Boy, howdy..I lived these days once upon a time. Thanks for the memories with this better than good poem!!!
Hi, K! I do appreciate it. I hope your weekend’s a great one. I’m zooming off again…yay! I love blue skies:)
oh my god!!! yeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!
to have gone on those wild rides
and lived to tell tales
Lucky, lucky us!!! Seriously cool poem. You tell full stories. Wonderful.
Thank You and Cheers!
Hi, blissbait. Ha! Ha! I love the Ye-ha! That one woke me up. Thanks so much!