17 September 2025

The Gift Ride

 

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Riding from Philadelphia to Cincinnati
in a new Rivian R1S, taller than a car,

I viewed the tree-filled mountains of
Pennsylvania, the flat fertile plains of Ohio,
and the endless sky from the backseat
under a dynamic glass roof set on
transparent rather than opaque.
 
Ten hours in a gift of a ride with my brother
and the driver—his son—two people
I hadn’t seen in quite a while—exchanging
memories, arguing politics until we couldn’t
agree to disagree mildly, hearing about the
occasion we had been gathered to attend—
the Bat Mitzvah of the oldest daughter.
 
The green of summer mingled with the red,
ginger, and orange of fall.  An occasional clump
of white birch brought yellow leaves to the fore.
And the bare fields lay harvested and waiting.
We stopped every three hours to recharge the
car’s electric, to stretch our legs, and to snack. 
Sated, we trusted ourselves to GPS, and moved on.


 

For Mary's prompt "Through the Windshield" at What's Going On? 

 

My blog poems are rough drafts.
Please respect my copyright.
© 2025 Susan L. Chast


10 comments:

  1. Marja9/17/2025 11:59 PM

    wow a 10 hour trip That's quite something. I have done that but over at least 2 days. What a great memories I can relate to the exchanges of memories and politics with brothers. I love the description of autumn or uh fall as you call it. Beautiful. We just started spring here.

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  2. Mary9/18/2025 8:35 AM

    What a special drive this must have been, and how nice to have the time to talk with close family for ALL that time. I have only seen a few Rivians around here, and when I see one I take note! Seems you had quite a luxurious ride. Smiles.

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  3. Intelliblog9/18/2025 8:51 AM

    Ah, that's what good memories are made of, Susan (even with the differences of opinion - that's healthy, as long as everyone has their say). Lovely poem (nice car too!).

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  4. Jae Rose9/18/2025 10:02 AM

    A vivid and tender memory captured so well - Jae

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  5. Sherry Blue Sky9/18/2025 11:31 AM

    I love everything about this poem - AND the car is electric!! Yay!. I especially love the fall colours and the fields, bare and waiting. Amazing, that roof you can gaze through. It is beautiful, too - a wonderful colour. Very snazzy.

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  6. Truedessa9/19/2025 6:28 PM

    I can't say I've seen one of those cars around here. It looks like it would be a nice comfy ride. I enjoyed the last verse filled with the wonders of the shifting season.

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  7. Jim9/19/2025 11:28 PM

    I was riding with you, melded in the window glass. Nice write. Our leaves here don't start changing until mid November and on into December. Around here hardly any trees change, it'l be green all winter. That I miss of New Hampshire, the fall leaves red and yellow. We left in 1964 to work here at NASA Houston.

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  8. Sumana Roy9/20/2025 2:44 AM

    Aww. This drive is so full of warmth, Susan. How beautiful! Even nature was in tune with such glow of warmth. I love the contentment, peace and love everywhere around the poem.

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  9. rallentanda9/20/2025 9:53 AM

    A glass roof? Sounds like a very expensive luxurious car. A ten hour drive is arduous. Beautiful scenery...quite an adventure.

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  10. Jennifer Wagner9/21/2025 3:36 PM

    I can picture the entire ride, Susan, with your wonderful, lush detail! "arguing politics until we couldn’t
    agree to disagree mildly" would make me feel like the drive was 20 hours instead of 10!

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