Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LEARNING THE AUTO, by WALT MASON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LEARNING THE AUTO, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I'm learning the automobile; as, trembling, I
Last Line: "oats!"
Subject(s): Automobile Drivers; Dreams; Nightmares


I'M learning the automobile; as, trembling, I sit at the wheel, and steer her
along, through the hurrying throng, how nervous and awkward I feel! I jolt
people out of their lids, I run over chickens and kids; a spurt she will throw
when I want to go slow, she scampers, skedaddles and skids. I sweat, and I'm
weak in the knees, when swift around corners she flees, she whimpers and whirs
and she gurgles and purs, and runs into fences and trees. My courage she
constantly damps by running down bow-wows and tramps; she collided today with a

big heavy dray, and busted her fenders and lamps. I drive her around for an
hour, this engine of terrible power; wherever I stray, on my death-dealing way,

of feathers and fur there's a shower. At night, when I go to my bed, fierce
nightmares abide in my head; I dream my new truck is just running amuck, and
leaving a windrow of dead. I run over chickens and goats, I run over roosters
and shotes; and oft, in my dream, do I raucously scream, "My auto is feeling her

oats!"





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net