Poetry Month 3: Flat

Peter Dudley writes:

Poetry Month 2018
I’ve resolved a few times to write a poem a day during the month of April, and I actually succeeded once. I’m again trying it out. No idea what each day will bring. Some light verse, some politics, some “oh shit I didn’t write anything today” haikus. If you read one and feel moved to comment, please do. If you want to share your poetry, please share!

I respond:

​Hell with a poem a day. I am going to write as many poems as I can in the month of April because anything is better than zero.

"Flat"

Emptying the trunk is hardest
harder than the 5 lug nuts
or the jack
harder than the asphalt 
under her dress pants
or the metal against her manicure

But the trunk has
     ice scrapers
     reusable grocery bags (that she always forgets)
     three or four jackets and sweaters
     a yoga mat
     full size paper timelines, one per child
     two travel pillows
     one shoe
     five books
     her purse, her briefcase
     umbrellas
     tarps
     first aid kits
     glass bottles that once held iced tea

Empyting her life
is the hardest
most time consuming

And where to throw the trash?

Packing up
putting back
hands the dark black of grease
the color of her childhood working on cars with her dad

Dude in a pristine Volvo coupe
dressed in his tennis best

pulls up

"You got someone coming to help you?"

She thinks, fuck you
but she says

"I already did it myself."