The Ear of Joyce

Some ear he was. A right one. Telling all as it was. When a traffic car pulls you for speeding, you put up your ol' fist and say, arl get on wit ya. The copper, he says, well, I suppose you were speeding alright, knowing your history and all. He looked out over the hills of fine futures and forgot all about speeding and all about rusted wheel hubs. He just thought of that night back then, years ago.

All red she was from the cold.
And a fine head of hair.
Her hand a piston, a grip.
Her bead-eyes, a wanton shrewy.
She, her feet draped across a cinema seat of velvet.
Huge boots and a self-made bow made of iron.
Two hoots and a half, she laced her own bony spoon around his.
Three tight hugs and one up and over to take-away.

A yes, sir. She replied from the back seat. Ah, you see, sir, we were just finding our way back to the light sir.

Sometimes I see the darkness and I don't want to write this damn speeding ticket. I only want to feel her cold hands around me again. I want to take this pen and pad and throw it over the edge, with only me on the end of it. Wasting away the driving anguish of this squashed, heavy drain-head.

I'm sorry sir, it won't happen again. I was just giving birth to a disappointment. Very painful, sir.

Dog-eared, the speeding ticket tucked into his pocket. I saw that tiny speck of coffee there earlier. I thought about licking it, only for it to become a smear. A smear of never-ending progress. Caffeine keeps me going, he muttered under his breath. It gives a lurch to that old heart of mine. I'd like to reduce my carbon footprint by setting fire to my feet. Timeprint, goals, steady non-reversible progression towards the grave. I used to live my inexperience on the road, he thought. Now I take away all the left-side drivers' right to roam.

Very expensive car that. Are you the cause of road accidents? Treat others with respect. Make sure you do not give birth to disappointment on the road. Make sure that you trust your back-seat passenger. Don't overtake in unusual places. Don't think you are smart by buying a car on e-bay.

Sir, you don't want us to really turn back do you? Go back to that chase? You didn't even remember me.

Just looking into that sky, makes me remember her. Her little beam of a face. It sure made me smile. I remember looking up to her in a room in a seaside town and she, she was just like the sea. My steel rock. She was all rolled into one over that fossil. I miss the fossil. The green lakes and the dip of the dolphins. You could see from up there and then she left me.

Talking of which, sir, I thought you would understand. Being in the family. You sure could let us off sir. We're only young.

Yes, young, young. I drag myself to the age of draughty hell. I just wake up to eat slime. I walk towards elders. Towards blackberry down-and-out. It's all down on from here. Suit yourself.