Drags (The) Poem by Tom Courtney

Fire cracks and spits belches out ripping the air
exploding out of short and mean tuned exhaust pipes
from these exotic sleek now trembling and rocking
high velocity accelerators

Engines suck in liquid nitro-methane into titanium chambers
The cars seize from side to side before the Christmas tree
the starting pole of lights red yellow and green

And into of the parking lots
the popping and spitting strikes you
And if it gets any louder
you’re off to the hospital
bleeding from the ears

And the rippling waves of sound
are deafening, you but you come
seeking protections medication
anything that it takes
just to return and watch the races

And you come seeking excitement diversion and escape
from an evening spent on the couch
sitting next to someone

who has spent a lifetime
perfecting ways to insult you

And the drags? You clench your ears
and embrace the pain