Sherry Chandler

Charlie Hughes

Owner of Wind Publications, publisher of the Kentucky Literary Newsletter and Calendar, Charlie Hughes is also an excellent poet. (See this post for more on Charlie as publisher.) The poem below is from his collection, Shifting for Myself (Wind, 2002). Charlie says:

this poem refers to US 68 between Lexington and Harrodsburg. I’ve driven it countless times at night. If you’ve ever traveled it you’ll see the connection

I have driven it, slowly and in the daytime. It’s an impressive route along the Kentucky River, which has cut deep into the limestone bedrock, but I think pretty soon the highway/commuter safety police will take it away and give us something bland, ugly and “safe.”

Driving Force

I could have taken the interstate
after the funeral
but don’t. Tonight I want
the river road. I need
the knowledge of water
that has washed for ages over stone
to form this dark gorge.
Tonight give me the hum of an engine
breathing easy in the cool dark,
a road that snakes and clings
to the limestone cliff. I love
the not knowing
what’s around each bend, how the old
Chevy lunges into each curve.
Swift God, give me acceleration
and the surge of shifting gears.
Let the wind’s cool fingers
rip open the night.
O let this hunk of metal and flesh
lean into that wild darkness
the moan of tires holding on for life.

Possibly related posts:

Charlie Hughes to receive Governor’s Award in the Arts

Charlie Hughes at the KAC Governor’s Awards

Shifting for Myself

A Post-Election Query from Charlie Hughes

This ol’ river keeps on rollin’

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