a tank full of unleaded

as i stand

at the gas pump, filling

up the tank

again with regular unleaded,

i  think about all

the cars i've driven.

the chevys, the hondas, the 

fords

and toyotas.

fast cars, slow trucks.

heaps, automatic and sticks.

some i took care

of, kept them washed

and clean, while others

i didn't give a damn about,

they ran,

and that was enough.

point A to point B.

as i stand there inhaling

the smell of oil

and gas in the air

i ponder

all the girls that became

women

that sat in the front seat

of those cars,

all girlfriends

that i had fun with

in the back seat at the drive-ins

and on lover lanes.

how i honked the horn

for them to come

out, their mothers wagging

their fingers at me,

screaming, don't go out

with that boy, he's no good.

i put the gas cap back on,

and slide

the hose into the pump.

i drive away. those were the days.