The Man I Presume to be Buck

16 Comments

Poem Commentary

A story of times past and forgotten souls.

The Man I Presume to be Buck

The road ahead is long and dusty

The scenery ain’t much to talk about

Two cows lying under a shade tree

A sway backed horse grazing in the dry field

Several buzzards circling in the distance

The 1936 Chevy chugs ahead with an occasional

cough from its engine as if protesting the dust.

The faded sign by the roadside reads Centerville 20 miles.

An old abandon farm can be seen in the distance.

Implements and an old Ford PU rusting in the yard.

Windows long ago broken by local bored youth.

The Chevy chugs by the old house

and the rear view mirror projects an eerie image

as if someone were watching from within.   

   An old mailbox lies on its side with the flag raised

as if to signal that mail is to be picked up.

Next to the mailbox is a child’s broken tricycle.

A few miles down the dirt road on the left

Is the entrance to a deserted ranch.

The sign over the rotting wood fence reads Circle K.

A barn with the roof collapsed stands guard.

The Chevy backfires and continues down the road.

A painted sign by the roadside reads Bucks Place ahead

Gasoline and cold drinks.

Some two more miles and Bucks Place comes into view.

An old 1920’s Texaco sign with a big star marks the entrance.

The Chevy halts with a sad groan by the one and only pump.

Buck is nowhere to be seen.

A Coca Cola cooler sets in front of the dilapidated building.

Inside are one bottle of coke and one bottle of cream soda.

Inside the building the counter display contains

a package of Wrigley’s gum and a Baby Ruth candy bar

accompanied by a single package of Lucky Strike cigarettes.

Suddenly, the one I assume to be Buck emerges

from a back room rubbing his eyes to clear

the remnants of an early afternoon nap.

He grunts slightly as he brushes by to attend to the Chevy.

I choose the cream soda from the cooler and take a few sips.

It clears the dust from my throat but does little to relieve my thirst.

I pull my last twenty dollar bill from my wallet and hand it

to the man I presume to be Buck.

He takes it and shuffles inside soon returning with my change.

Without a word being said I climb into the Chevy and depart

watching in my rear view mirror as Buck disappears into the crumbling building.

As the Chevy chugs on my thoughts turn to all the back roads of America

and I wonder how many guys named Buck are out there

serving as sad sentries to a life that has passed them by.

 

©Copyright 2009 Charlie Gragg      

Poem Comments

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stellar commented on The Man I Presume to be Buck

01-07-2010

wow...hats off to u...very photographic mind...I enjoy the descriptive writing...u captured the atmosphere very well...^_^ v

Hampton

01/07/2010

Thanks. I enjoyed the write as well.

dahlusion commented on The Man I Presume to be Buck

10-13-2009

A prize-winning tale told with vivid imagery that takes the reader into Buck's soul. Brings me back to a childhood of lazy summer days along the Mohawk River hanging with the Hobos and drinking Coke, fishing, and catching copper head snakes, snapping turtles, and sunburns. Bravo!!

Hampton

10/13/2009

Thank you Dah.

tenderpoison commented on The Man I Presume to be Buck

10-13-2009

very well written Charlie! nostalgia at its finest. 10

Hampton

10/13/2009

Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.

Gertrude commented on The Man I Presume to be Buck

10-13-2009

This brought back memories of going through this little town while driving to Florida, but the people weren't sad. They enjoyed the simple things in life even if it wasn't the best of the best. I like this writing and I look forward toreading more.

Hampton

10/13/2009

Thank you very much for reading and your comments.

jademelissa74 commented on The Man I Presume to be Buck

10-13-2009

Buck removed the masks of life that puzzle and limit our progress in the journey toward contentment, inner peace and the tranquility we all yearn for. He has shown that simplicity is more, perhaps, than simply letters on a page. It holds a message clear, no incongruity to confuse the senses now or yesterday..... The imagery that you used to craft this masterpiece is incredibly exquisite. You are such a powerful writer. I love the "simplicity" that this poem shares. Amazing write!

Hampton

10/13/2009

Your kind words warm my heart. Thanks for reading and commenting.

Poetry comes nearer to vital truth than history.

Plato (BC 427-BC 347) Greek philosopher.

Hampton’s Poems (111)

Title Comments
Title Comments
Searching 5
The Poetess 14
Nonsense 12
Solitude 18
Lame Limericks 14
Message to Papa 15
Young Jimmy O’Fallon 11
The Computer From Hell 18
Life Ain’t for Sissies 16
The Mind In Motion 13
The Game of Poetry 9
Silence 55
WordSlinger 19
Holiday Thoughts 12
Sweet Mary 18
From White to Grey to Black 19
The Reckoning 12
And All of That Jazz 16
Today 25
No Offense, Just My Opinion 16
Lucky 10
You’re Only as Old as You Feel 13
Saturday Night 13
Political Change? 14
The Female Gender 17
I’m In Charge Here, Aren’t I? ( With Epilogue) 10
I’m In Charge Here, Aren’t I? 7
Remembering 11
This Web We Weave 13
The End 16
The Day the Clouds Cried 16
The Path of Life 12
My Mother Ruth 12
Forever–ast
er
11
Humanities Challenge 14
A Cowboy's Perspective 12
July in Buda Texas 14
The OP Poets Parade 20
The Chatelaine 12
Shot Through the Heart 17
Poetry and Fine Wine 18
The Man What Am 10
The Final Beat of My Heart 16
The Rainbow of Poets 19
A Cowboy's Lament 13
Of This World I am Not 17
The Wee People 19
An Evening at an Irish Pub 15
The Scent of Love 14
Fresh News from Buda Texas 16
Memories of Times Past 13
The Dance of the Poets 20
The Confession 14
Road to Obscurity 18
Barbara 14
Shadows 15
Prescience 17
Words That Bind 54
Wondering 26
New Year News from Buda Texas 13
We Are All Witnesses 16
Christmas 25
A Cowboy’s Prayer 29
The 9 ers 24
Love Defined 27
Tis a Time to Give Thanks 21
More News From Buda Texas 26
Choices 26
News from Buda, Texas 21
In Search of God 21
Writers of Poems (WOPs) 26
Out of the Darkness 15
Visions from Within the Mist 18
Baseball 12
The Night Stalker 16
The Man I Presume to be Buck 16
The Sounds of Time 17
The Little Man in the Green Hat 18
Blah Blah Blah 14
One Two Three 13
Carpe Viam 11
Love in the Afternoon 13
The Moth 14
Lost & Dungeons of the Mind 11
The Creative Process 19
The Truth and the Tribe 19
The Long Wait. 19
Feathers 26
The Arrow 14
Take Two Cialis and Call Me in the Morning 26
Ghostly Images 16
Friends 11
Angels Without Wings 20
IN MY OWN WORDS 13
The Rider 16
Pride and Shame 18
The Winning Poet is.... 21
Memories 13
Politicians 67
Your Mailbox Is Empty 18
God's Visit 17
Poets and Poems 20
Love Thy Neighbor 13
Renewal 8
The Roar of Silence 17
Blessed Are These Days 4
Time and Space 5
Life's Journey 8
Gift To The Fallen 16
Hunger 21
The Antique Shop 30