Photo by Diego PH on Unsplash
First Car
It was easy to hate
the Japs and Nazis
because they were
killing our boys.
We were too poor
to own a car.
Walked everywhere
or took an electric streetcar.
When we were too sick
to travel,
the doctor came to us.
Every Saturday morning
I pulled my wagon or sled
to the market
for groceries.
Fresh vegetables
arrived in the street
by horse drawn cart.
We flooded the street in winter
and I belly flopped my sled
while others skated and played hockey.
The street was also
our baseball diamond
and football field,
rarely interrupted
by an errant auto.
We thought things would never change,
but then we bought our first car
and the battle against the planet
began in earnest.
---Thom Hawkins
Copyright, May, 2019
Thom Hawkins is in his 83rd year of abetting the destruction of life on earth. He wishes to express his regret and condolences to the remaining survivors. He doesn't want or expect forgiveness. He wants all of us to love and care for each other and for all life forms. His expectations are exceedingly low that we will, but he weeps gratitude when we do.
First Car
It was easy to hate
the Japs and Nazis
because they were
killing our boys.
We were too poor
to own a car.
Walked everywhere
or took an electric streetcar.
When we were too sick
to travel,
the doctor came to us.
Every Saturday morning
I pulled my wagon or sled
to the market
for groceries.
Fresh vegetables
arrived in the street
by horse drawn cart.
We flooded the street in winter
and I belly flopped my sled
while others skated and played hockey.
The street was also
our baseball diamond
and football field,
rarely interrupted
by an errant auto.
We thought things would never change,
but then we bought our first car
and the battle against the planet
began in earnest.
---Thom Hawkins
Copyright, May, 2019
Thom Hawkins is in his 83rd year of abetting the destruction of life on earth. He wishes to express his regret and condolences to the remaining survivors. He doesn't want or expect forgiveness. He wants all of us to love and care for each other and for all life forms. His expectations are exceedingly low that we will, but he weeps gratitude when we do.
