I was sitting at the Flying J in Caldwell, ID a few nights ago, waiting to load the following morning, when I was blessed to see yet another beautiful sunset as I sat in my truck in the back row of the lot. My mind drifted to the serenity of the highway on an all night run – fewer cars on the road and the still of the night always seem to create my idea of perfect driving conditions. I like to try to shut down before sunrise so I can fall asleep while it’s still dark. If you’re reading this, and you’re not familiar with a truck driver’s daily logbook page, I will give you a brief description, which might make the title of this poem make more sense. The drivers’ daily log is a grid representing a 24-hour period spanning from midnight to midnight. There are four categories a driver falls under at any given time during a calendar day – they are shown on four separate lines, or rows, on the page. Line 1 represents “off duty” time; Line 2 is “sleeper berth” time; Line 3 shows “driving” time; and Line 4 is reserved for “on duty not driving” time. Currently, a driver is allowed to drive up to 11 hours within a 14-hour window of time, beginning when he starts his “on duty” time. After his driving time or on duty time expires, he is required to take a 10-hour break, either “off duty” (Line 1), in the “sleeper berth” (Line 2), or a combination of the two. It’s a bit more complicated than that, but that is the basic idea. The title of this poem is meant to represent the act of going in the sleeper (Line 2) for 10 hours, after the 14-hour window expires. But, really, the essence of the poem is to describe the tranquility of an all night drive, before shutting down as the sun comes up. I hope you enjoy my “2 for 10” poem this month (and the picture of an old painting I did way back when).
2 FOR 10
By Trevor Hardwick
Lights are glowing on the ground,
Darkness falling all around.
Peace and comfort will be found,
As I sail into the sunset.
My mirror shows the coming night,
My hood reflects the sun so bright.
And everything will be alright,
As I sail into the sunset
A sailor on a concrete sea,
Nothing but my ship and me.
Orange and blue is all I see,
As I sail into the sunset.
The cars have all but disappeared,
A call from home, a voice to hear.
I’m tired Lord, but I’m still here,
And I’ll push on to midnight.
Stars have gathered all around,
I roll through some sleepy town.
At the edge of town I hammer down,
As I push on to midnight.
There’s an echo out across the land,
And white noise on the citizens band.
My wheels kick up the desert sand,
As I push on to midnight.
I love the song a diesel sings,
When 18 wheels keep harmony.
The moon could tell me anything,
In the pre-dawn hours of morning.
Trucks are sleeping in their rows,
The cruise is set, the coops are closed.
I contemplate the path I chose,
In the pre-dawn hours of morning.
These are hours the world forgot,
The streets are cool, the pyro’s hot.
I try to give it all I’ve got,
In the pre-dawn hours of morning.
And just before the sun comes up,
I see my empty coffee cup.
I know my 14 hours are up,
So I hit Line 2 for 10.