Old Relevant Stuff

Flip up an old garage door: Senses awaken With the smell of unspent gas And the sight of oil stains Upon the floor. Memories return; Yea, the paint is a bit thin, (like me) worn and weary, But, under that old hood Is still plenty of strength and fury. Grab an ancient thumb-latch handle on the door Turn a key in the dash Bring to life this sleeping dinasour; Time for a fast blast into the past, Up through the gears And back through the years Life's thrill comes by way of this beast, On gas, tires and oil it will heartily feast. -To the driver side It's like a perfect old friend Come to visit Now and then, Fond old times to recall When both stood so young Unfettered and tall. -To the mechanic side It was always perfect joy Spending many a night wrenching On this overgrown toy. And for both the only thought it all brought Was the pure pleasure behind the wheel To be sought: The perfect-simple plan Of machine and man. A mechanical mellifluous milieu, Before everything went to hell after 1972. It was back when Pontiac was alive And made their own engine, And the letters G.T.O. Were truly a legend........ But time and age All have their wicked ways, So even the fabled muscle-car Could not out run its fate At the hands of pejorative politicians And ruthless insurance rates; Those nights of way back when Shall never return again, Sadly missed, But fondly reminisced Each time, that wild old engine whines. It's loud, it's quick, and well yes, ... obnoxious, But always it is proudly made and drove on the backroads Of the good ol' U.S. -Thank God, there is no fuel injection Nor computer to aggravate, Just a simple carb on a simple V-8. It's real American steel With plenty of heft and power you can feel, Tires to turn And rubber to burn, Keeping it all straight on the road Is the real challenge Moving along at 10-miles a gallon! Yet, it's pure passionate pleasure of power Running down the road at 100 miles per hour! - And now everytime it rumbles and roars It all returns To live once more; So here again I'll take it for a spin And recall the ride That so simply makes it feel good Just to be alive. Yea, it's only a mere thing, A bit old - a bit rough, But to a few (such as me) Who through different eyes do see, It truly is still some very relevant, beautiful stuff.