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Old Men, Old Machines
by
Ron Houchin


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Yesterday at Yesterday's Restorers, came a moment,
Alex, Rodger, and Dave, each with hands in metal entrails,
of gasoline fumes, of man, machine,
and an excess of fellow feeling.

The youthful octane in the tank of first loves:
Nash Metropolitan, Chevy Corvair, Ford Pinto,
each idling, conquests of easy repair; no intimacy
of backseat equal to being alone with nostalgia.

In the beautiful ruin of lives, a device recovering
from rust to percolation, paint becomes flesh;
iron becomes bone; benzene, blood? each a sign,
an emblem, hood ornament against time.

© by Ron Houchin.
Used with the author's permission.

 



 

Ron Houchin (1947 - 2022) grew up in Huntington, West Virginia. He taught English for thirty years at Fairland High School in Ohio. Ron was the author of ten poetry collections, a short story collection, and a young adult novel. An enthusiastic traveler, Ron participated in readings and taught workshops all over the world. He was a lifelong film buff and a lover of nature.


Post New Comment:
KevinArnold:
Yes, we seem to be finding nuggets here. I liked "no intimacy / of backseat equal to being alone with nostalgia." perhaps because it has backseat, intimacy, and nostalgia so close together."
Posted 11/12/2015 11:26 AM
vscholtz:
Such a lot of beauty and skill in this poem. I especially like - "In the beautiful ruin of lives" Thanks for a winsome walk back in time.
Posted 11/12/2015 08:57 AM
Ross Kightly:
The word 'restore' goes on echoing down the years back to, say, a Ford Custom 'One Spinner' of my own childhood in Australia! Thanks Jayne and Ron - lovely!
Posted 11/12/2015 04:29 AM


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