Solemn Journey

By Bob Fisher
7/9/04

After qualifying was over and night fell at Indy last year,
We were just sittin' round talking, havin' a cold beer
When this feeling compelling me to take a walk, walk out into the night
Down the track to the end, down to the finish line lights.

As I walked down the return road and left the pits farther behind,
Maybe it's the noise or lights that plays tricks on your mind,
But things sound different to you when you're at this place walking at night
And if you stop walking and listen, and the wind is blowing just right,
You think you hear the staccato in the distance of a fuel car cutting through the night.

Oh, I know what you're sayin' -- how many beers before you hear that --
But maybe you're just not listenin' or maybe it's where you're at,
'Cause seven years ago on this spot right here at this track
A future champion lost his life and we know that's a fact.
We all pledged to do things so it wouldn't happen again,
But at St. Louis another future champion's life was cut short and came sadly to an end.

They both had a quiet presence of champions just waiting to be
And that's our misfortune that we'll never get to see.
Both these champions I knew and called them friends of mine
And I think some decisions in our sport are made just on the bottom line,
But it's our duty in this sport to these champions with a passion to drive
To do whatever is possible to keep them safe and alive.

Got a poem you'd like to submit? Email it to poems@racingnetsource.com. We'll read it and if we like it, we will publish it. Remember the title to the department is "No Rhyme, No Reason, No Pay," so don't expect any and we won't either. -- Jeff Burk