Automatic Transmission
by Steven McCabe
Cromwell Road littered with omniscient stars made of whirling matchsticks
The car filled with rags soaked in the ocean.
I soak in the ocean.
Automatic transmission
World without end
Shift into paradise.
Flee without a sound –
Rags soaked in the ocean
Almost touch a thicket
Omniscient stars above Cromwell Road
Murmur your name.
I murmur your name.
Automatic transmission
World without end
Shift into paradise.
Rags soaked in the ocean
Salted beneath the omniscient flame
Who’s to blame?
The car reflects metallic blue
Matchsticks burn like birthday candles –
Flee without a sound.
I flee without a sound.
Automatic transmission
World without end
Shift into paradise.
poemimage 
Steve, this poem-and-image sequence “Automatic Transmission” is wonderful!!
I always enjoy your poemimage posts, but again, especially liked this most recent one. Very nice indeed!
(Have you done anything further with TMWHI?)
Cheers/best wishes,
CW ________________________________
Hi Chandra, Nice to hear from you. Thanks so very much. I’ve been editing this post in ‘real time’ after it was first posted so I hope the version now is still the version you liked! I took TMWHI from 80,000 words up to 105,000 then 120,000 and planned to stop. But ‘it’ kept going to 140,000 words! I haven’t looked at the manuscript in a few months! : -) Working on a large painting since late April and it’s now 75% complete. When that is done I’ll have to print out TMWHI and see what the story is! 🙂 All best, Steve