Old Gray Truck (With an Apology to Dan Seals for Borrowing the Tune)

[Pendragon]

I guess she’s not much to look at.
She’s not much to drive—
There’s a hole in the seat
On the passenger side.
The engine light stays on
Because it gets stuck—
But I really like driving
That little gray truck…

There’s a dent on the side
Where my son took the ditch
There’s a knob missing
From the radio switch
That radio skips and
The CD player sucks—
But I really like driving
That little gray truck…

The tailgate is missing
Replaced by a board.
There’s a chip in the windshield
And trash on the floor.
She skids on the ice
Like an old hockey puck—
But I really like driving
That little gray truck…

The driver’s door takes spells
When it doesn’t want to close.
The hood’s hard to open
When you must check a hose.
The engine sometimes runs
On wishes and luck—
But I really like driving
My little gray truck!

There’s more to this truck
Than you’ll ever know;
She might squeal on the curves
And slip on the snow
But she’ll take any back road
If you’ve got the pluck—
And if you’ll put your faith in
This little gray truck!

Pendragon
11/8/2020

[WolfLarsen]

Your poem so much reminds me of my ugly wonderful four wheels, that got me to my blue-collar job, that paid my bills. Thank you.

My truck was so ugly. But it was beautiful the way that it went through the snow and everything else that got in its way! (It had huge wheels!) I was working in Alaska at the time. My truck was my friend!

I had to edit my earlier comments, because whatever I wrote last night when I was drunk, didn't make any sense to me when I woke up sober this morning.

[WolfLarsen]

Your poem is beautiful. One has to love a truck that gets you to work. Because work is a beautiful four letter word that keeps you from being homeless.
Once again, I like your poem!

[tailor STATELY]

Could be rural Americana or otherwise... a light and pleasing touch. Enjoyed :) . Great to "see" ya !

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor

[Danik 2016]

Good to see you driving around, even if the truck is a bit battered.

[Pendragon]

Had to add in a verse.

There’s more to this truck
Than you’ll ever know;
She might squeal on the curves
And slip on the snow
But she’ll take any back road
If you’ve got the pluck—
And if you’ll put your faith in
This little gray truck!

[Hawkman]

Hi Pen. This is rather fun and a lot more enjoyable than the rather cloying maudlin sentimentality that oozes out of the original. You might want to pay a little attention to the scansion though. There are a couple of places that a very minor tweak would rectify the departure from rhythm. I'd be inclined to drop the first two words of S1;
S4:
"The driver’s door takes spells
When it doesn’t want to close.
The hood’s hard to open
When you must check a hose.
The engine sometimes runs
On wishes and luck—
But I really like driving
My little gray truck!"

Is s bit clunky and would flow better thus:
"The driver's door, sometimes
just don't want to close,
and the hood's hard to open
when the oil light shows.
The engine runs often
on wishes and luck
But I really like driving
My little gray truck!"

Of course, should you ever decide to cast off the twin yokes of religion and respectability, you could indulge yourself in the obvious rhyme for truck :D

Live and be well - H