“That Road Don’t Go Nowhere” published at Gobblers by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry

Hi, everyone. I’d like to let you know my poem “That Road Don’t Go Nowhere” has been published at Gobblers By Masticadores. Many thanks to Manuela Timofte and her staff for this opportunity to share my poetry with their readers—it’s always an honor and I’m truly grateful. Kindest thanks, Manuela!

“That Road Don’t Go Nowhere”
© 2013 by Michael L. Utley

“That road don’t go nowhere mister

Raspy sigh of too many cigarettes
Grease-blackened claw points in the general direction of
Eternity
Stench of gasoline and sweat
Indecipherable name emblazoned on
Filthy coveralls
Gas pump chugs and stutters
Connected to my car by an umbilical cord of
Ancient dinosaurs
His eyes lost in pools of wrinkles and regrets
As my eyes follow his finger
Nothing but rock and sand and the howls of
The lost
In this desolation…”

You can read the rest of my poem by clicking this link. Also, don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Gobblers By Masticadores, where you’ll find some wonderful writing and plenty of food for thought.

36 thoughts on ““That Road Don’t Go Nowhere” published at Gobblers by Masticadores”

    1. Top o’ the mornin’ to ya, Sam. Yep, probably just one more oldie to go and then my vault will be depleted (unless I find a way to go back in time and write a bunch more to refill my vault). Hope your Fourth is a good one, my friend. 😊

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      1. I feel the same, Mike. I finally put up my “chic cafe choas book stacks” and found a place to put a globe my dad got for me years ago and moved the knitting needles bowl I abandoned when I got busy in Dec lol. I got about 8 old journals and I flipped through ones from 2017 and 2021 and it seems I just took a real long time to bring it to WP. Same ideas, tons of different sequences on how to put em together.

        The New that isn’t really New is the best part about writing!! I think you’re gonna kill it, Mike.

        Happy Fourth!! 😄😎

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    1. Thanks, David. I assure you, the feeling is mutual, good sir! Your support is so important to me and I appreciate it more than you can ever know. Hope you’re staying cool in this scorching summer heat. 😊

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  3. wow… This is a truly marvellous piece of writing Mikey.

    There is nothing behind me

    There is everything behind me

    There is no going back

    when I read those lines the entire weight of the piece just rested on my soul.

    a masterclass, my friend. 👏👏

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    1. Thanks, Nigel. Those three lines seem to be the stand-outs in this piece. I like the repetition and the paradox and just how the lines appear on the page and the way they sound when read to myself. Your support is golden, buddy, and I appreciate you (and I owe you an email, which will be forthcoming soon). 😊

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    1. Thank you kindly. Despite its darkness, it was a fun piece to write. There’s something about the desert that makes for a good metaphor for life, you know? Thanks for stopping by to say hello, and a happy Fourth to you, my friend. 😊

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  8. Congrats, Mike! Wonderful story telling with vivid descriptions, I can see the gas station attendant and I can almost smell the gasoline!

    There is nothing behind me
    There is everything behind me
    There is no going back

    Lines that touch souls and hearts!

    Beautifully crafted and a well deserved honor, my friend!

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    1. Many thanks, Peggy. Your kindness is invaluable to me, dear friend. Those three lines seem to be the ones that really stand out in this poem. I like their simplicity, repetition, and depth. I had a lot of fun with this one even though it’s so bleak and gloomy. Wishing you a good Fourth, my friend. 😊

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  13. My dear friend, I am so glad that I did not miss this prodigious piece of writing. I am going to repeat my comment I left at Gobblers.

    “Mike this is an extraordinarily brilliant piece of writing. The manifestation set with the umbilical cord – connected right up to the gas tank that is pumping dinosaur remains into the old vehicle which we know will never make it to the next gas station. The last stop to nowhere. The uneasiness builds with each word, line, and stanza.

    “This final outpost of sanity
    Sun-bleached boards and
    Rusted gas pumps
    Stand sentinel against
    What lies beyond
    Against what should not be
    But is anyway”

    Electrifying lines that takes me all kinds of places. The spirit like thing he views along with the dust devil – knowing this head nowhere. When he ends up back at the gas station it is like a bad dream – something we continue doing and ending up in the same place. If you would have written this in 2024 I would say our Country is headed down a very frightening path and don’t we ever learn from our mistakes. Mike your writing is just so intoxicating truly. What a brilliant poet you are. Sending you hugs and blessings, always my gracious friend. ❤️ Joni

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    1. Thank you, dear friend Joni. Your reviews are so insightful and kind. Lots of different inspiration for this piece, from old desert-themed movies I recall from my childhood to what it feels like to deal with major depression daily to the whole “life is a desert” metaphor. I used to write horror fiction many years ago, and this piece harkens back to that period, which is why I enjoyed writing it so much.

      I appreciate you, my friend. Thanks for stopping by to say hello. 😊

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      1. You are so welcome. It is always a joy and a pleasure to read your work. I am always grateful when I see that you have a post. You wrote some great horror stories. I am sending you big hugs and lots of love my friend. Perhaps gobblers would post one of your horror stories. I’d love to read it. ❤️🤗❤️ love Joni.

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