Kings of the Road

[edsiejka]

Kings of the Road

by Edmund Siejka


We were in a fast car
Running with the wind
Listening to the radio
Bruce singing Born in the USA
Us singing along
Me not knowing the words
Carried away by the beat
And the powerful male voice.

The sun went down
Red streaks in the sky
Feeling brave and invincible
We drove on
Three of us
Mike and Bobby
Me in the back seat
The music becoming stronger
Hypnotic
Like a powerful magnet
Joining our voices together
Until it stopped.

Up ahead
A sign
Pointed to Jones Beach.
Walking along the deserted shore
We found a dry stretch
Sat down facing the ocean
Rhythmic sounds of crashing waves
Calming us down
In the darkness
We talked about things
Questioning our teenage doubts
In anticipation of the exciting lives
That was sure to await us.

Occasionally I think about that night
But it never bothered me that we didn’t keep in touch
Last I heard Mike was somewhere out West
And I lost Bobby’s number
Years ago.
Recently
I had the chance
To read the lyrics to Born in the USA
Lyrics that I thought were so catchy
And so right
In fact described the callous treatment
Of Viet Nam vets
Who came home ignored and forgotten.

As for the Three Kings
From that summer night
Forgotten friendships
Made in youth
Don’t seem to ever come back
Such are the mistakes in life.

[the mingo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T2COZpVD84

play it loud - for the ones who went - for the ones who didn't - for the ones gone now - for the ones yet to be born -

[saw]

I am a Vietnam era veteran, though luckily escaped the jungle on ships that were never in danger....my best friend died from complications of Agent Orange, another good friend is crippled today from shrapnel all through his body.....his wife fought the VA for years to finally secure a disability for him...some school friends didn't come home...a fucked up mess all around....I like the way you addressed that time, that war, with innocent memories of boys hanging out, listening to music,....and those lost connections

[Arcadia]

what I remember about that song was Springsteen´s tigh neck while singing it in the video.... you expected to see it explode at the end of the song ... , no idea about the lyrics beyond the first line until now, though, I´ll google it!.
Yeah, songs & experiences/memories are so entwined... gracias for your poem, edsiejka!