"Antiques, A Wedding And Three Flat Tires" by Gene Hodge

Songs of Eretz Poetry Review is pleased to present “Antiques, A Wedding And Three Flat Tires” by Gene Hodge, a member of the Chattanooga Writer’s Guild.  He is also a Journeyman Wireman and professional entertainer who performs throughout the southeast.  Hodge hails from Sparta, Tennessee. 

Antiques, A Wedding And Three Flat Tires

Gene Hodge

She said, “My headaches stopped the day my husband died.”

I stood there, arms crossed, smiling,

while her frail body shuffled through the antique store,

found a 1943 dressing stool and sat down.

With youth’s mischievous sparkle still in her eyes

she continued,  “We drove trucks as a team—

we were together seven days a week.

I once asked him if he knew what happened this day 60 years ago,

he said he didn’t.

I said you ought to; we had three flat tires on the way to get married.”

Then slowly lowering her gaze to the hardwood floor,

she paused . . .  and murmured,

“You would’ve thought, we would’ve turned around and went back . . .

but we didn’t.”

I never gave her story much thought—

only saw the humor, the irony of the moment—

until I began to write this poem

and my pen searched an empty page for a closing line.

Not once, did I hear the word love, fun or happiness.

Only if I read between the lines

do I find a hint,

and that was...

“My headaches stopped the day my husband died.”

Poet’s Notes:  The beauty surrounding us amazes me.  People are poetry and they are the living examples of life.  I am intrigued by every step, wrinkles on their faces, and the movements of their lips as they write for me and become the poem.

Editor’s Note:  This one reminds a bit of William Carlos William's work.  The narrative is interesting, and I also like the little bit of ars poetica here.