Demolition Derby
by Bill Yarrow
The goal of a demolition derby is to crash
into all the other trucks as hard as you can
without destroying your own vehicle.
Sounds a lot like capitalism. I should have
said that to my sons as we were sitting
in the stands waiting for the vehicle melee
to commence. Beside us were ornery women
in tall hats, suspender dads, kids deformed with
ribbons, rural Lotharios, tattooed grandmas,
livestock lawyers, reverse cowboys, and young
men carbuncular. “Ladies and gentlemen,
please sit away from the wire fence. We're
otherwise not responsible for the mud.”
Trucks rut up mud, boys. Get used to it.
into all the other trucks as hard as you can
without destroying your own vehicle.
Sounds a lot like capitalism. I should have
said that to my sons as we were sitting
in the stands waiting for the vehicle melee
to commence. Beside us were ornery women
in tall hats, suspender dads, kids deformed with
ribbons, rural Lotharios, tattooed grandmas,
livestock lawyers, reverse cowboys, and young
men carbuncular. “Ladies and gentlemen,
please sit away from the wire fence. We're
otherwise not responsible for the mud.”
Trucks rut up mud, boys. Get used to it.
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Author's Note
This poem appeared in Thunderclap! Issue Five.
Thank you, Robert Vaughan and Amanda Deo!
The poem appears in Pointed Sentences (BlazeVOX, 2012).
Other stories by Bill Yarrow
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Loved this to pieces, Bill, but then it's arare bit of yours that I'm not fond of. You took me right there. To the Demolition Derby, Where I would never in a million years go. fave
"... a lot like capitalism."
Or the body politic ... or academia ... or high school.
All things human in a microcosm. Yeeha.
fav
Comparing capitalism to a DD - I love it. Great despcriptions, "suspender dads" "reverse cowboys" *
An amazing moment in the middle -
"Beside us were ornery women
in tall hats, suspender dads, kids deformed with
ribbons, rural Lotharios, tattooed grandmas,
livestock lawyers, reverse cowboys, and young
men carbuncular."
I like the music in this. Nice work, Bill.
Very cool poem.
* fave *
I like the swing and swagger of this one. Ornery women, lawyers, "and young men carbuncular." Fav.
Love the list of people types. *
Love this. Love rural Lotharios. It reminds me of Ashbery's "Obedience School" -- *
I agree with Sam--that description of the crowd is amazing. Great work.
Yep, the butting heads doesn't just describe capitalism, but just about all life. In this realm, desires conflict. Everybody gets dirty. Good poem, Bill. *
Oh, that's good. Great last line! *
A beautifully formed piece, with perfect pacing and a great ending.
such a good descriptive piece.
very good.
Wondermous, Bill. Love how you slide in 'sounds a lot like capitalism'. Peace *
Good addition to a young person's education, capitalism is like a demolition derby: play by the rules and you're bound to crash; get too close and you might get dirty from just watching. Look at who else is sitting in the stands, that ought to tell you something.
Even the livestock have lawyers?
Another great one, Bill!!! "kids deformed with ribbons..." "sounds a lot like capitalism..." You really know how to pack it in!!! OUtstanding!! Big fave! ***