Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Monday, January 25, 2021

Calliope

 As a bit of a precis…

 

A member of the Bourgeoisie,

My ride I called Calliope,

Centurion, officially,

A sport coupe—early ‘70s.

 

We had such fun, were so carefree,

Ripped up the roads from A to B,

Music screaming like banshees,

From bush party to bush party!

 

Filled with fine teenaged esprit,

(But also strength to some degree…)

E’en went ‘sparking’ (Oh, dear me!)

In the shade of some old tree.

 

The chores were done, I grabbed the key,

An evening’s fun was meant to be,

But first some fuel from gas tank ‘three’,

Or was it ‘one’? Oh, Lord, help me!

 

Decision made, this devotee,

Filled half the tank, then turned said key,

The engine knocked alarmingly,

“Need gas, not diesel,” my Sweet Pea!

 

With fortune smiling at my plea,

(I’d filled it just half-way, you see)

“Top it with gas,” my dad decreed,

Said, “Burn it off!” to Bro and me.

 

Adventure followed, some whoopee,

Car pounded like some timpani,

Cruising ‘Main’, the sights to see,

With all our friends. So young. Carefree.

 

My sweet car aged despite my pleas,

The two doors sagged to vast degree,

Her parts no longer guaranteed,

And way past her own warranty...

 

Calliope went across the lea,

Retired, spent, discharged, set free,

Replaced by new and great. ‘Gutsy’,

But never quite the same. To me.




Cause Mondays do get knocked a lot,
With poetry, we all besought
To try to make the week begin
With gentle thoughts,
Perhaps a grin?
So JennyCharlotteMimi, me
Have crafted poems for you to see.
And now you’ve read what we have wrought…
Did we help?
Or did we not?
Next week, we'll write (You will be awed!),
Of SPUNKY, OLD and AWESOME BROADS!





Thinking of joining us for Poetry Monday?
We'd love to welcome you!
Topics for the next few weeks...
Craziest Vacation Memory (February 8)
From Your Pet's Point of View (February 15)

Favourite Word that Starts With D (February 22)
Peanut Butter Day (March 1)


16 comments:

  1. Oh Boy, it sounds like you had some fun in that car! I didn't learn to drive until quite late (early thirties) and I've never had a particular affection towards any one of my cars. (Though one of my husband's was named The |Passion Wagon in our early days!). Here's my little verse. (MOT = our Government's annual test for road worthiness, a legal requirement.)


    Any car that gets me from A to B
    Without breaking down is the car for me.
    Be it large or small, whatever its hue
    It seems, for me, any car will do -
    As long as it isn’t a guzzler of fuel
    And handles nicely: doesn’t kick like a mule.
    If in winter the windscreens are quick to defrost
    And in summer’s heat I don’t end up as toast
    If it passes its MOT with no worries
    And, when I’m in a rush, it nips and it scurries
    If it parks on a sixpence, not hitting the curb
    And it don’t stretch my budget so tight that it hurts
    If it zooms up hills and can hug tight bends
    And it’s reliable transport for me and my friends -
    If it does all these things, then it’s a true star
    And regardless of brand that’s my favourite car!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like this poem. Sensible and well rhymed.

      Delete
    2. Perfect, SBM! And I have to agree. A car that gets me from here to there, safely, without costing my next month's wages? That's the car for me.
      You just say it better! ;)

      Delete
    3. Yes! Exactly. The best car is the one that works and works well.

      Delete
  2. You sure had some fun in - and around - that car. And a sweet rhyme this is even with a sad ending.
    But pardon a poor Dane what IS next Mondays' Topic? Broads? rivers, beans ... ? Urgh ... No comprendo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I loved that car! Maybe it was because it was the first car I drove? It sure had a special place in my heart!
      'Spunky Old Broads' are women past a certain age who still have a love for life! It'll be fun!

      Delete
  3. Sparking? Oh, I have to laugh. Are we the last generation to know what sparking was?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sadly I think we are!
      And courting. My youngest daughter was singing "Going Courting" in kindergarten thirty years ago. The teacher asked her if she knew what 'courting' was. She smiled and said, "Dating!" Huzzah for the educational benefits of old movies!

      Delete
  4. What a fun car and fun times. Sparking, love it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Replies
    1. Right? And it really didn't seem so amongst the 'boats' we drove at the time in Canada!

      Delete
  6. I love that car. I mean, it brings me back!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I loved my first car, it was a part of me. Many, many, many years after we had to get rid of it, a friend found it sitting at a run down house out in the woods and sent me there to check it out. It was like seeing an old friend again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ohmyword! What I wouldn't give to see my Calliope again! Would the old ink blot still be there? The carpet stain where I brought the new calf home? Memories!

      Delete

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