2 Poems

by Travis Stephens

“I Love LA”

A bank of clouds has pitched their 
tents high above Los Angeles,
another homeless tribe who find
the weather to their liking.
I’d like to visit them, talk a walk
through camp, careful where I step &
I promise not to repeat
what I saw happening there.
Maybe wander until I am
above the HOLLYWOOD sign, pause
to marvel at the view, the way
the sign needs a coat of paint,
the way couples fuck in the grass below.
Some neighbors to the sign want
Google maps to not list the sign’s address,
not their driveways, 
only the tow away zones,
the hydrangea bushes. 
Confidential.
Keep it as private as the Temple on the Rock,
Beyonce’s favorite mirror,
 the House Minority Leader’s recliner 
or the Coke recipe.
Okay, okay, I am leaving. Don’t yell.
Think I’ll mosey on home. 
I like to mosey; sounds like I’m doing
something fun.

“Paid by the Mile”

I get paid by the mile
not long-haul trucking
they lied to us at school
the jobs aren’t there.
We move containers from one
part of LA to another.
Not even a second seat in my truck,
no sleeper, just a logbook, a place
for a lunchbox & hardhat.

Don’t ask what’s in that water bottle.

In traffic I get cut off.
A lot.
So my right leg is stronger than
the other because i clutch, clutch all day.
You’d think cars would know better.
I got a 40 foot trailer behind me &
I push & it pushes back. 
Little car you change lanes &
trust in my brakes,
ignore gravity.
Thing is, the Highway Patrol writes
tickets for backending. 
They ought to write tickets for cars
front braking. 
I’m saving up
for a dashboard camera. 
Next week
there is a holiday so double time.
I’m on it, don't look back at me.
I’m on doubletime.

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Travis Stephens is a tugboat captain who lives and works in California. His book of poetry, “skeeter bit & still drunk” was published by Finishing Line Press. Visit him at: zolothstephenswriters.com