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.



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This article has 158 comments.


on Jan. 26 2010 at 5:30 pm
she's sleeping in the passenger seat of the car. :)

on Jan. 7 2010 at 2:48 pm
mellow_melon PLATINUM, Jefferson, Maryland
41 articles 14 photos 67 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but my the number of moments that take our breath away."

if youre going to say a poem is bad, then give some constructive critism, don't say it sucks

MeaganF said...
on Dec. 17 2009 at 11:25 am
MeaganF, Southern Pines, North Carolina
0 articles 0 photos 2 comments
I totally agree with firefly116. flashes?? makes no sense. passenger's seat? precisely.

on Dec. 16 2009 at 8:47 pm
Babygurl_101 SILVER, N/A, California
8 articles 0 photos 118 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Angels are the quiet girls that just havent been noticed yet"
"The past is the past, and i am your futuer." (<3<3<3<3<3)

this is really good~~ keep up the work~

check out my work if u can

something said...
on Dec. 16 2009 at 3:44 pm
buggerssssssssssssssss

on Nov. 24 2009 at 6:15 am
firefly116 BRONZE, Southern Pines, North Carolina
4 articles 0 photos 10 comments
i agree, definitely what she meant.

on Nov. 24 2009 at 6:11 am
firefly116 BRONZE, Southern Pines, North Carolina
4 articles 0 photos 10 comments
thank you for saying that! i think ur the 1% of people who read this who actually got that!

on Nov. 24 2009 at 6:07 am
firefly116 BRONZE, Southern Pines, North Carolina
4 articles 0 photos 10 comments
when someone rides in the passenger seat of a car right beside the driver it's called riding "shotgun". as she was sleeping in that front seat, she gives an account of what she notices. at least that's what i thought she meant.

on Nov. 14 2009 at 5:38 pm
PeaceLoveDance321 GOLD, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania
15 articles 0 photos 6 comments
whats the title mean?

on Oct. 29 2009 at 7:24 pm
calephchad BRONZE, Guin, Alabama
4 articles 0 photos 84 comments
I love this peice of work. Nice job! I love the name and everything. I really admire your work. Excellent job. :)

Schmandrea said...
on Oct. 11 2009 at 12:38 am
Schmandrea, Nowhereland, Nebraska
0 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
"...Addison, why is your pool so shallow?" -Brooke

I think it's the title because she was half asleep and was between seeing nothing then flashes of scenes.

on Sep. 19 2009 at 9:25 pm
MeganAnne PLATINUM, Niskayuna, New York
24 articles 0 photos 157 comments

Favorite Quote:
All my life I've looked at words as if I were seeing them for the first time. ~Ernest Hemingway

I finally got the title after rereading it a few times. Nice job.

on Jun. 29 2009 at 8:24 pm
Vindictive_Love BRONZE, Abq, New Mexico
1 article 5 photos 41 comments

Favorite Quote:
Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.
Michael Jordan

Whatever you do in life, will be insignificant, but it's very important that you do it.
Mahatma Ghandi

nice work i felt like i was the one in the car because you were so descriptive. nice work.

IanG. SILVER said...
on Jun. 27 2009 at 1:46 am
IanG. SILVER, Gainesville, Florida
8 articles 0 photos 9 comments
i felt like i was with you on a long seemingly unending road trip. very nice :)

Cambei SILVER said...
on Jun. 22 2009 at 10:33 pm
Cambei SILVER, North Saint Paul, Minnesota
8 articles 5 photos 3 comments
This is kind of the same style as I would write, although you go for the "complex" side of things where I go for "simplicity". 4 stars :)

lover26 BRONZE said...
on Jun. 22 2009 at 5:10 pm
lover26 BRONZE, Westminster, South Carolina
4 articles 1 photo 2 comments
that was relly good but y that title?

on Jun. 22 2009 at 5:01 pm
annkaykay2011 DIAMOND, Lansing, Michigan
75 articles 11 photos 137 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I am who I am, sorry, no changes."

Beautiful imagery and stanzas

on Jun. 21 2009 at 6:05 pm
cmoney1994 PLATINUM, Newark, New Jersey
20 articles 0 photos 64 comments

Favorite Quote:
Be the best you an be as you can see i try to be by writing poetry.

Perfect couldn't get any better

Sclong said...
on Jun. 15 2009 at 3:51 pm
...it really made me have nothing to say more...well just one word awesome!

on Jun. 11 2009 at 2:43 am
Passion03 BRONZE, Brea, California
2 articles 0 photos 13 comments

Favorite Quote:
When I woke up this morning lying in bed, I was asking myself;
What are some of the secrets of success in life?
I found the answer right there, in my very room.
The Fan said... Be cool
The Roof said... Aim High
The Window said... See the world
The Clock said... Every minute is precious
The Mirror said... Reflect before you act
The Calendar said... Be up-to-date
The Door said... Push hard for your goals
--Unknown

nice very nice finally understood the title haha great imagery you've got quite a talent keep it up