Crash and Burn

crash and burn on the second turn

a standing O and thundering roar

flaming wreckage scattered everywhere

bloodthirsty crowd screams for more

less a sprint and more a demolition derby

celebrating carnage at racing party

squealing tires and burning fires

wrinkled sheet metal, mallets and pliers

angry crowd chants for more destruction

underhanded tricks, ploys, corruption

down the backstretch, wheel on wheel

adrenaline to fuel the thrill

competition called a sacrifice

every driver has their price

trading paint and trading pain

meager points and inches gained

the laps go by but we only count the lead

veterans watch the rookies bleed

opening the chance they need

drafting on a foreign bumper

too much throttle and we’ll see a jumper

airborne for just a few previous seconds

then gloriously landing and summarily wreckin’

yellow flag and hammer the gas

pit row or decide to pass

fuel and tires can make or break

competition tries to shake and bake

run up hard and ride the brake

straightaways and fullest throttle

spectators betting on their model

not much left to call them stock

faster laps watch the clock

another caution and roaring crowd

the lucky few drive through the cloud

noise deafening as most get plowed

the big wrecks are the money shot

spotters missing the blind spot

carnage like an onslaught

tow trucks, wreckers, oil spilled

high octane crowd absolutely thrilled

luckily none were killed

final turns and all look clear

finish line appears near

shifters shift to higher gears

pass the white and hit the pedal

tightening hard on the metal

now or never, if you’re going to pass

gambled wrong and out of gas

coasting while the field goes by

tires mean nothing when the tank is dry

in the distance the checkered waves

closing seconds, no one behaves

positions change and fenders rub

this field more of a club

racing….it’s in their blood

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R J Schwartz

I write about everything and sometimes nothing at all.I'm fascinated by old things, rusty things, abandoned places, or anywhere that a secret might be unearthed.I'm passionate about history and many of my pieces are anchored in one concept of time or another.I've always been a writer, dating back to my youth, but the last decade has been a time of growth for me.I'm continually pushing the limitations of vocabulary, syntax, and descriptive phrasing.

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