Interstate
Richard L. Matta, San Diego, California
Billie Dee, San Miguel, New Mexico
18-wheelers
shedding 10-ply skin
runaway truck ramp Richard
big chest, tiny waist
the chrome mudflap chick Billie
watering hole
a singing trout
behind the bar Richard
biker funeral
his brother-in-law’s
borrowed suit Billie
hot Harley pipe. . .
the squid’s new ink Richard
tattoo removal
her last two husbands
finally gone Billie
Second Place
Judges: Yvette Nicole Kolodjj, Sean Kolodji--comments
Grit and grime permeate this poem about living and dying in the fast lane, driving us into a memorable and vivid portrait that evokes Route 66 Americana. The fish-out-of-water discomfort of a biker donning an ill-fitted ‘borrowed suit’ is relatable. We watch the hot-headed squid (biker jargon for a specific type of reckless biker) impulsively get a new tattoo, new scar, or worse. The poem effectively transitions from tires shedding its skin to the undulating shapely silhouette of the ‘chrome mudflap chick,’ a symbol of the unattainable standards of feminine beauty. The poem ultimately ends with a woman shedding her tattoos and her ex-husbands. The stories of those that occupy this milieu are intriguing—the tone and theme of this poem really stood out from all the other contest entrants.
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