Ruby’d facets sparkle
clutter on
tugging me along
clusters
of headlights
bunch diamond bright
nudging me onward
the precious chaos
jumbles for miles
to disappear
beyond sight
front and rear
Bangkok traffic’s tight
this midnight
as I creep
only two thoughts
hotel
and sleep
*
rob kistner © 2022
More poetry at: dVerse
I’ve never been there but I can feel the chaos and exhaustion in your poem.
Im happy you felt the drone Lynn.
Yesss! Relentlessly driving on into the lit night, yet longing to drop off the burden of day, and to drop off…. sleep well.
Yes yes Kathy, unending exhaustion!
And that’s why I try to go nowhere. My Beloved Sandra’ s blindfolding me and taking me to Nova Scotia for the whole friggin month of June.
Oh no Ron, kidnapped! Leave breadcrumbs my friend, I’ll send help… 😉
Travel always wipes me out. Yes, sleep.
I was unstoppable Kerfe, as a younger man — but now I take my rest, where and when I can.
“clusters of headlights bunch diamond bright.”
The image in the rear view mirror of a traffic jam atnight.
This is my favorite:
“precious chaos
jumbles for miles”
… Also the word “ruby’d” in the opening. It reminded me of a song called “Ruby Blue” by Róisín Murphy. You’ll love this to pieces:
https://youtu.be/u5pnRgH65wk
That chess painting is compelling.
Thank you, and thank so much fir sharing that spectacular jazz dance performance —- wow wow ???? and wow again! That got bookmarked under favorites… ???????????????
It’s from a favorite show of mine—So You Think You Can Dance. The new season begins tomorrow. <3
I will share more of my favorites from past seasons; you can find SO much on YouTube. I favor hip hop, but much of the contemporary is exquisite.
Used to watch SYTYCD all the time prior to Pandemic. I missed that routine Shawna.
I’m giddy about tonight!
Make it to Bangkok, anc you’ll be giddier — I promise… 🙂
one of my favorite reads from this prompt! i love the city lights at night, traffic lights…the sounds of a city still awake at twilight.
Thank you Stacy! It is the sight and sound of the communal essence and nature of our humanity — it is a living thing beyond our individuality.
How chaotic and tiring it must have been!
Beatto the bone Punam!
Murray Head bounced into my head even before I saw your video clip – love your descriptions of the traffic, perfectly captured.
Crazy looking place Marion!
I heard a programme on the radio a couple of years ago about kids commuting for hours across Bangkok to get to school – basically, sleeping in the car for a couple of hours, having breakfast in the car, and then being dropped at school! The traffic is horrendous, I love your depiction of it – I could smell the fumes.
Just looking at the picture puts my mind in grid lock!
I could feel the chaos you were immersed in as you traveled through Bankok. Loved all your images of the cars and lights, etc. Sleep never comes soon enough for a traveler!
No my friend, it never does Dwight…
I was fortunate to see the stage production of Chess … have the two disk CDs which I play often. I would love to visit that exotic city. Love your poem, Rob.
So would I, just after I see Barcelona… 🙂
Night driving in such jam-packed roads would be exhausting for sure! Nice quadrille 🙂
Thank you Veera…:)
Following those “ruby’d” lights and trying to stay awake–I can feel the exhaustion. If this is based on a real trip, I hope it got better, Rob!
Real trip in my imagination Merril… 😉
I like the way you describe the city lights at night in the first 2 stanzas.
That’s what it looks like to me stuck at night in a traffic jam – the ruby red tailights blocking the wsy, and the glaring headlights crowding in behind.
It sounds like a wild kind of a place!
Madness and magic Ingrid — so I been told… 🙂
wow – you really made me feel as if I was there with you, Rob… well done!!
Thank you David…!
This spills so nicely. Such a satisfying rhyme, like finding that place to finally rest your head.
Thank you De, I am glad it resonated for you.
I was just going to ask about that song from Chess… Still remember the song (and I think we might still have the record somewhere)
Great song Bjorn!