DRIVER’S EDUCATION
by Bryan Borland
Sometimes I catch myself doing it,
driving with my wrist, my left
hand tilted hard
over the steering wheel.
This was how I learned to cruise
and look cool, how
my best friend Ricky
drove my mother’s white firebird
crazy. I emulated him
when I was alone
(when we were together,
he always grabbed the key).
I would tailgate the schoolbus,
the boys in the back
drooling over my
mixtape freedom,
windows down, too fast,
too many girls wanting rides,
their charms lost on me.
© Bryan Borland
I like the cycle of envy–from your own to schoolbus boys and charmless girls.
I always gave you rides. Except when I didn’t. Remember when you didn’t take Mendy Hoffman to school?
Oh my!
Yup, Jade. M’Lady will just leave you stranded. Remember that time she left me at my college graduation to just wander a football field? And they turned the lights off on me? Oh wait – I think I got some things confused. Maybe I did that to her.
the both of you..
i cannot wait to the dualbiography to come out..
oh. ya.. you know i enjoy it bryan, don’t you. driving with the wrist. the boys on the back. damn the world is small.
(not so sure how to read that mixtape freedom part)
Mixtape freedom = when I would drive, I’d have cassette tapes (mix tapes) of my favorite songs blasting. Learning to drive, tasting freedom to the soundtrack of your life.
“damn the world is small.” Yup. This is why I write poetry.
Very acute personal observation that is universal: That which looks one way can in fact be another way. You are very good at articulating the falsehoods of society. I wish you had slid in ‘palming the wheel’ because honey, THAT be cool.
*snap* Testify, Val!
I really liked your description. Why is it that we tend to imitate “cool” people’s attitude? Why do we want people to admire us for what we are not?
Are we so desperately looking for affection?
(Sorry if I made you feel bad, but this questions are not specially directed to you, It is the reflection of myself in the poem)
You are the best man, I like your honesty
No apology necessary, Mariana. I think we all sort of go through periods where we look to others for validation. This was my truth for a while. It’s part of who I was and who I am.
love this one
the image of the wrist bent back is also a pretty clever take on a gay stereotype 
You know, that was one of those accidental happenings. Some poems write themselves.
They are fantastic, all three new poems. New persona/voice thingy to match the ubercool new photo, or vice versa. Either way, it is going to be a fabulous year indeed.
The work is done. TIme to have fun.
I really enjoyed the youth in this “flashback”. Thanks for sharing your words.
God I remember that car Love the poem it totally takes me back to another time and place.
Totally loving that you came here, read this, and commented. You were one of the good guys!!! I still remember when you hung Greg Sharer’s bike from the roof of the park pavilion!