Shotgun Slumber | Teen Ink

Shotgun Slumber MAG

April 22, 2009
By Megan Buckner BRONZE, Gilford, New Hampshire
Megan Buckner BRONZE, Gilford, New Hampshire
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

My face is smushed against the glass –
cheekbone and jawline numb from
the cold, and long hours spent pressed
against the window. Rhythmic breaths
create patches of fog along the contours of my nose and lips.

Out of the corner of my right eye
I catch glimpses of the landscape we
pass by, but I’ve seen it all before.
Concrete barriers and painted lines
keep my driver on course.

Beyond the asphalt and wildflower medians
sprawl cornfields, suburban neighborhoods,
vast parks. Perpetual movement fools me
and for a moment, I am stationary –
free to view the passing still frames
of others’ lives.

Another mile marker and tired eyes flutter –
the endless strings of telephone lines,
cow pastures and landfills blur together
as the lullaby resonating from the spinning
axles beneath my feet sings me to sleep again.



Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 158 comments.


on Dec. 11 2013 at 3:57 am
TheDolphin ELITE, Iloilo, Other
210 articles 11 photos 50 comments
All I can say to your poem is: BEAUTIFUL

on Oct. 15 2012 at 9:21 pm
lizzyw77 BRONZE, Wayland, Massachusetts
3 articles 0 photos 17 comments
Beautiful descriptive words. Loved it! Please check out my poem- "Autumn" 

on Jun. 27 2012 at 12:41 pm
albinotiger GOLD, Gloucester, Massachusetts
13 articles 0 photos 186 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win"- Stephen King
“In life, unlike chess, the game continues after checkmate”- Isaac Asimov

Really good desriptive words, its like im there!

on Jun. 5 2012 at 9:37 pm
CharlieSmoke GOLD, Lowell, Massachusetts
18 articles 0 photos 15 comments

Favorite Quote:
“Nature is a haunted house--but Art--is a house that tries to be haunted.”
- Emily Dickinson

This poem, to me, described something I've done many times really well. Very well written- I'd love to see more by you!

on Apr. 22 2012 at 11:51 am
Mimi15 PLATINUM, Belfast, Maine
49 articles 0 photos 73 comments
Check out my poem "puddle-wonderful" :)

on Mar. 31 2012 at 2:41 pm
BeautyFromPain21 SILVER, McGraw, New York
6 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
the only thing to fear is fear itself.

The name is amazing in itself, and then the actual poetry...amazing

on Jan. 25 2012 at 9:42 pm
Def_Leppard_fan120 SILVER, Lake Lorane, Florida
5 articles 0 photos 72 comments

Favorite Quote:
If you want your dreams to come true, Make them come true. If you want to win, Make it a win.
The only one that is stopping you from accomplish your dreams is YOU.

This poem was AWESOME!!!!!!!! I loved it. Anyway come check out my profile. Leave a comment and rate it. I write action and adventure stories, or maybe when I get inspired a scary poem or story. There is more to come. See ya there Rock on dudes and dudettes

on Jan. 25 2012 at 7:59 pm
blah_blah BRONZE, Orange, New Jersey
1 article 0 photos 2 comments
this poem was very unique and cool

sydneyy said...
on Jan. 25 2012 at 10:10 am
sydneyy, South Bend, Indiana
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
i love this . its so nice . i made one too . its a article .

Ayme. said...
on Jan. 25 2012 at 8:08 am
really, really awesome poem. can u check out my stuff?

on Jan. 25 2012 at 7:35 am
Calligraphic SILVER, Shavano Park, Texas
5 articles 4 photos 23 comments

Favorite Quote:
"A smile is a curve that sets everything straight." -Phyllis Diller

I really liked the diction in this piece!

on Jan. 3 2012 at 3:38 pm
WeAllBurn PLATINUM, Vermilion, Ohio
24 articles 0 photos 71 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." ~Mahatma Gandhi

that was truly, amazing. just wow. speechless.

on Dec. 12 2011 at 5:32 pm
Grania PLATINUM, Portland, Maine
33 articles 0 photos 79 comments
This is great!

on Nov. 20 2011 at 8:38 pm
artmantist BRONZE, Willemstad, Other
3 articles 0 photos 72 comments
plz, check out my work. nice poem

Shmelmo GOLD said...
on Oct. 29 2011 at 4:52 pm
Shmelmo GOLD, Elma, Iowa
16 articles 9 photos 143 comments

Favorite Quote:
You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.

Wow...I really like this peice. It can relate to a lot of people, myself being one. Thanks for posting this. Could you check out some of my work please?? :)

A_____ said...
on Oct. 29 2011 at 2:13 pm
A_____, Columbus, Ohio
0 articles 0 photos 133 comments
I've had these same thoughts on many a road trip. Very nice, thank you for putting them into words.

Lexie96 GOLD said...
on Oct. 23 2011 at 8:53 pm
Lexie96 GOLD, Havana, Illinois
11 articles 0 photos 378 comments

Favorite Quote:
Now Cinderella don't you go to sleep, it's such a bitter form of refuge, oh don't you know the kingdom's under siege, and everbody needs you. - The Killers

Aw, wish I could sit shotgun again. Start driving and suddenly you have to drive everyone everywhere. At least I do :) Think that anyone could check out my work? Please and thank you!

on Oct. 8 2011 at 12:01 am
Anonymous_7 SILVER, Branson, Missouri
6 articles 0 photos 118 comments

Favorite Quote:
-The only time you can get away with murder is when writing a book!

You did a great job on this poem!  I feel this way sometimes. Would mind checking out my work? It would be much appreciated, thanks!

aimaginater said...
on Oct. 7 2011 at 1:08 pm
She's sitting shotgun. As in the front passenger seat of a car.

on Oct. 7 2011 at 11:09 am
the-tears-im-crying-dont-deserve-you PLATINUM, Batesville, Indiana
32 articles 0 photos 38 comments

Favorite Quote:
love comes and goes,
just like the watter flows

why is it calle dshotgun slumer tho it has nothing to do with a shotgun