121 Comments

Listening to this poem with eyes closed is to become more accepting and forgiving of my younger self, mad to understand and see what waited around every single corner.

Expand full comment

I love the image of following the snowplow in the snowstorm.

We have two kids living a mountain summit away. So visits not only revolve around time off, but whether there's a storm coming in or not.

Expand full comment

Perfect capture of that time. I've watched my grandsons in its grip. A beautiful, crazy thing!

Expand full comment

fantastic piece! I have tried to follow that snowplow through many storms. :)

Expand full comment

It's nice to hear your voice again, Sherman. I missed you for a long time.

Expand full comment

Love "road trip refugees..."

Most of us have one of those. Great poem, thanks, Sherman!

Expand full comment

Love this, Sherman!!

Expand full comment

Thanks so much for the poetry prompt. I shall try to do it justice!

Expand full comment

Thanks, Jan. good luck!

Expand full comment

Man, this poem carries me back to a (somewhat) similar winter journey to see a girl. Thanks for the memories!

Expand full comment

!!!!

Expand full comment

Delicious.

Expand full comment

Thanks, Jonathan,

Expand full comment

I love this! And so relate as a teenager growing up in Minnesota…thank god for creating snowplows….the bigger, the better!

Expand full comment

Snowplows! Snowplows!

Expand full comment

With each poem you share, I feel we get a little poem chapter of your life. Thank you for sharing these! Gorgeous poem! In that car praying with you! What a special girl and what a special guy!

Expand full comment

Thank you,

Expand full comment

Usually, I eschew anything, and particularly any literature, which tries to smile, or to compliment those who smile, or which is receptive to, or evokes, warmth and friendship and human communion.

But I actually liked it. It is the first "nice" thing I've read which doesn't seem sacharine, silly and juvenile.

What you wrote seems GENUINE.

Expand full comment

Thank you, David. I think about 95% of my work is not "nice." Ha!

Expand full comment

The first section of your poem took me back to a memory of driving from Barbourville to Pineville, in the Appalachian Mountains of southeastern Kentucky in a blizzard. The 18 mile trip took me over an hour and a half. I was also 17. Then, wonder of wonders, I get to the last section of your poem...I too was doing all of this for a girl...her name was Lynn. I still think of her with a great fondness that may have once been love.

Expand full comment

Beautiful! I'm having so much fun reading all the similar storm-braving experiences.

Expand full comment

I think many of us remember that road, that storm, and that lust that drove us on..and much like the snow…only the memories remain…love your writing though some is rough to swallow..

Expand full comment

Thank you, Sage.

Expand full comment

What a fine post, Sherman. Energy dripping from every word! I’m in awe that you used a common high school circumstance to craft wonder!

Expand full comment

Thank you, Gary.

Expand full comment