The Sacred, poem by Stephen Dunn

THE SACRED
Poem by Stephen Dunn

After the teacher asked if anyone had
            a sacred place
and the students fidgeted and shrank
 
in their chairs, the most serious of them all
            said it was his car,
being in it alone, his tape deck playing
 
things he’d chosen, and others knew the truth
            had been spoken
and began speaking about their rooms,
 
their hiding places, but the car kept coming up,
            the car in motion,
music filling it, and sometimes one other person
 
who understood the bright altar of the dashboard
            and how far away
a car could take him from the need
 
to speak, or to answer, the key
            in having a key
and putting it in, and going. 

Photo: Paul Gorbould

“The Sacred” by Stephen Dunn is included in Good Poems, American Places Selected and Introduced by Garrison Keillor. Find the book at Amazon.com.

The Sacred, Poem by Stephen Dunn

THE SACRED

Poem by Stephen Dunn

After the teacher asked if anyone had

            a sacred place

and the students fidgeted and shrank

 

in their chairs, the most serious of them all

            said it was his car,

being in it alone, his tape deck playing

 

things he’d chosen, and others knew the truth

            had been spoken

and began speaking about their rooms,

 

their hiding places, but the car kept coming up,

            the car in motion,

music filling it, and sometimes one other person

 

who understood the bright altar of the dashboard

            and how far away

a car could take him from the need

 

to speak, or to answer, the key

            in having a key

and putting it in, and going. 

Photo: Paul Gorbould

“The Sacred” by Stephen Dunn is included in Good Poems, American Places Selected and Introduced by Garrison Keillor. Find the book at Amazon.com.

Curtain Up, Light the Lights

We are still in St. Paul, Minnesota, continuing our summer road trip. The visit wouldn’t be complete without a stop downtown at the Fitzgerald Theater.

Built in 1910, and originally named the Sam S. Shubert Theater, the Fitzgerald Theater is home to The Prairie Home Companion, the weekly National Public Radio variety series hosted by Garrison Keillor. Currently owned by Minnesota Public Radio, the theater serves as venue for a range dramatic and musical works. In 1994, the theater was renamed in honor of St. Paul’s native son, F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Photo: QuoinMonkey, All Rights Reserved