Words in Motion 2014- Feature Poem of the Day for National Poetry Month

The Winter list


The Government has a list (if you wish) of stuff to pack in the back of your cars;
like water in bottles and blankets, and food that won’t spoil such as energy bars.
With extra clothing, and shoes or boots, and a first aid kit with a seatbelt cutter,
Do not forget the scraper and snowbrush, and a shovel alongside the normal clutter.

And don’t forget some candles, in a deep empty can with plenty of matches;
plus a wind-up flashlight with a whistle, and a road map with one of those clips that attaches
to a copy of your emergency plan, next to the sand/salt/cat litter, (non-clumping)
‘twixt the anti-freeze, tow-rope and extinguisher, washer fluid and cables for jumping.

I’ve two sets of everything for both the cars, plus warm clothes for Mom Dad and Junior,
and a wrap for the dog which I lost three times, as well as my sense of humour.
Packing all that stuff filled both the vehicles and caused me to swear and cuss.
So I parked the cars for the winter, said “To hell with it,” and travelled by bus.

                                                                                    Kevin Thornton