Medusa via Chevrolet

Perseus kicked down the tailgate
flung her head into the back
of his ‘63 Chevy pick-up

and took off at 70 southbound on a country road.
Medusa bounced on the metal bed
her hair creeping up over the edge

spreading its mix of snakes and air
like the top of a maple or willow
tangled and billowing

snagging on overhanging branches
fangs tearing at leaves
bark and scales twisting

birds rising up from their mistake
as an old truck takes an old lady’s
head out past the county line

pulls over backs in at a gravel pit
tugs one loop of black snarls
heaves the whole thing over the edge

shoves shoves again lets it roll
gets back in slamming the door
on a venomous curse

throws the truck into gear and shifts
looks in the rearview mirror
for one last glimpse of a bloody tree

changing places with the setting sun
until both of them turn black
and his red Chevrolet drives on.

ISBN 1-59661-012-3
91 pages $18
Joanne Lowery was born in Cleveland and educated at the University of Michigan and the University of Wisconsin. Her poems have appeared in many literary magazines, including Birmingham Poetry Review, 5 AM, Passages North, Atlanta Review, Poetry East, Poet Lore, Parting Gifts, Spoon River Poetry Review, and River Styx. Her most recent collections are Seven Misters (Pygmy Forest Press) and Leper Woman and Other Poems (March Street Press). She lives in Michigan.