Monday Tourists

Rain-drenched
roads kick up
blinding mist,
Eight hours –
construction,
accidents,
snarly traffic
ignoring
neon:
Adjust speed for weather

We arrive
at five –
multi-lanes
jammed –
Quick!
Wrong lane!
Merge right!
Weary commuters –
tourists
a rush-hour pain –
graciously acquiesce.

Welcome
to Ottawa.

(Inspired by today’s road trip and written for dVerse’s quadrille: quick, and Ragtag Community’s: grace)

Published by

VJ

Permission to write, paint, and imagine are the gifts I gave myself when chronic illness hit - a fair exchange: being for doing. Relevance is an attitude. Humour essential.

51 thoughts on “Monday Tourists”

  1. I’ve been there a couple times….not a fan of busy cities or speedy highways. I do remember it being a bit confusing…some odd one way streets. It is a beautiful, historical place once you settle in.

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  2. Being a road tripper, I have encountered such traffic jams due to construction or accidents and yes, have ended up on a wrong turn off in order to avoid delays so really appreciated your poem…nicely penned, brought back some memories.

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  4. You are on my doorstep. I recognized it from the picture. This town is construction all the way, season in, season out, you navigated excellently throughout your poem. It is exactly as you described it. You are brave to be in the core of downtown at traffic hour. Enjoy your stay. Welcome to the pothole construction zone.

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  7. Seattle/Tacoma compete with LA for worst traffic jams; it was always an instant migraine for me. The vividness of your piece brings it all back.

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  8. Oh, the way you open this, “Rain-drenched
    roads kick up
    blinding mist” and we are right with you in the panic and confusion. And so thankful for the gracious commuters — after my last trip in rush-hour Chicago, I can say, that’s an amazingly wonderful twist! You really covered a lot of ground here, and opened me to the poetry of traffic jams in an unfamiliar territory. Beautiful!

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  10. Oh, the hullabaloo of a big city is so well expressed — your words swerve here and there like a stressful drive. I really liked how you structured it with quick line breaks.
    I also liked this bit: “a rush-hour pain –/graciously acquiesce.”
    -HA

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Quick guess…is that Rideau Street? You describe a familiar scene well and the stress of it all…going slow and yet having to make quick manoeuvres to the correct lane.

    Liked by 2 people

  20. “Quick! Wrong Lane” Words that strike terror into the heart of commuters. Well put. I’m happy in retirement, and have sympathy for those who aren’t.

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  21. Ottawa! One of my favourite Canadian cities, but it always seems to have construction going on or is that just the Canadian short window for road work we experience everywhere!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You mean our two seasons – winter and construction, lol? We haven’t been here for some time, so it feels new. Had dinner in the Byward Market tonight, and did not see the bear that apparently turned up there yesterday.

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