Once as I was traveling

The speaker begins by recounting a specific moment during their journey.

on a highway

The setting is established on a highway, a common pathway for travel.

to Mexico

The destination of the journey is revealed, pointing to a specific location.

behind a battered once-blue

The speaker is following a worn-out, previously blue-colored vehicle.

Mustang

The type of car being followed is identified as a Mustang.

with a dusty rear window,

The Mustang is described as having a dusty rear window, indicating its less-than-perfect condition.

the wind really sang

A personification of the wind, suggesting a heightened or emotional atmosphere.

for me

The wind is singing for the speaker, creating a personalized connection to the environment.

when suddenly out of the side

A sudden and unexpected event occurs.

of the speeding car

• Refers to the Mustang, which is moving quickly.

in front of me

The perspective is maintained, emphasizing the events happening ahead of the speaker.

a woman’s hand

Introduces the image of a woman’s hand, indicating a female presence.

with a wrist watch on it

Specific details about the hand, including the presence of a wristwatch.

threw away

The woman’s hand is engaged in discarding or throwing something.

a series of whirling objects

Multiple items are being thrown in a swirling motion.

on to the hurtling road:

The objects are landing on the road, emphasizing the speed of the car.

a straw

The first item thrown, a straw, introduces the list of discarded objects.

hat,

Followed by a hat, contributing to the imagery of clothing being discarded.

a white shoe fit

Describing a white shoe suitable

to be a fetish,

The white shoe has fetishistic connotations, suggesting unconventional or provocative elements.

then another,

The sequence of items being thrown continues.

a heavy pleated skirt

Describing the type of clothing being discarded.

and a fluttery

Additional details about the clothing, using contrasting adjectives.

slip, faded pink,

The slip is a pink color but faded, adding to the visual imagery.

frayed lace-edge

Describing the worn condition of the clothing with frayed lace.

and all (I even heard it swish),

The poet mentions hearing the sound of the clothing swishing as it is thrown.

a leg-of-mutton blouse

Describing a style of blouse with a distinctive shape.

Just as fluttery.

Reiterating the fluttery quality, possibly suggesting lightness or movement.

And as I stepped

The speaker becomes an active participant in the narrative.

on the gas

Accelerating the vehicle.

and my car lunged

The speaker’s car makes a sudden, forceful movement.

into the fifty feet

The distance between the speaker’s car and the Mustang is emphasized.

between me

Referring to the space between the two cars.

and them,

Highlighting the spatial relationship between the speaker and the other car.

a rather ordinary,

The description of the next item being thrown.

used, and off-white bra

Details about the bra, suggesting it’s ordinary, used, and off-white.

for smallish

Further description, indicating the size of the breasts the bra is intended for.

breasts whirled off

The bra is thrown and spins in the air.

the window

Indicating the trajectory of the bra from the car window.

and struck

Describing the impact of the bra.

a farmer’s barbed wire

The bra hits a farmer’s barbed wire, introducing a new element to the scene.

with yellow-green wheat grass

Describing the surroundings with colorful details.

beyond

The location of the wheat grass.

and spread-eagled on it,

Depicting how the bra lands on the barbed wire.

pinned

Describing the position of the bra on the wire.

by the blowing wind.

Emphasizing the influence of the wind on the bra’s placement.

Then before I knew,

The sequence of events is swift and almost unexpected.

bright red panties

Introducing the next item, bright red panties.

laced with white

Describing the panties in more detail.

hit

The action of the panties landing.

my windshield

The location of impact on the speaker’s car.

and I flinched,

The speaker reacts with a flinch, indicating surprise or discomfort.

I swerved,

The immediate response of swerving the car.

but then

Conjunction, signaling a change or realization.

it was gone,

The panties are quickly swept away or disappear.

swept aside

Describing the motion of the panties.

before I straightened up fortunately,

The speaker regains composure after the abrupt reaction.

no one else

Referring to other people on the road.

on the road:

The speaker reflects on the uniqueness of the situation.

excited, curious

Describing the potential reactions of others.

to see the stripper

The expectation of witnessing a stripper on the highway.

on the highway,

Clarifying the location of the anticipated spectacle.

maybe with an urgent

Introducing a speculative element.

lover’s one free hand

Imagining a scenario with a lover.

(or were there more?)

Posing a question about the number of people involved.

on her breast

Continuing the imaginative scene with the lover.

or thigh,

Suggesting intimate and erotic actions.

I stepped again

The speaker resumes their journey.

on the gas, frustrated by their

The frustration suggests unfulfilled expectations.

dusty rear window

Referring to the dusty rear window of the Mustang.

at fifty feet

Reiterating the distance between the two cars.

I passed them

The speaker overtakes the Mustang.

at seventy.

Indicating the increased speed of the speaker’s car.

In that absolute

Introducing a moment of clarity or realization.

second,

Emphasizing a brief yet significant moment.

that glimpse and afterimage in this hell

Describing the lasting impression of the scene.

of voyeurs, I saw

Reflecting on the nature of the observers.

only one at the wheel:

The speaker identifies the person driving.

a man,

Revealing the unexpected identity of the driver.

about forty.

Providing an age estimate for the man.

A spectacled profile

Describing the appearance of the man.

looking only

Emphasizing the focus of the man.

at the road

Indicating the man’s attention to the road.

beyond the nose of his Mustang,

Describing the man’s gaze and focus.

with a football

Introducing a football, a seemingly ordinary item.

radio on.

Describing the man’s engagement with a football radio channel.

again and again

Repeated actions of the speaker.

I looked in my rearview

The speaker checks the rearview mirror multiple times.

mirror

The reflective surface inside the car.

as I steadied my pace

The speaker adjusts their speed.

against the circling trees,

Describing the surroundings with circling trees.

but there was only

Expressing surprise at the absence of others.

a man:

Reiterating the solitary presence of the man.

had he stripped

Posing a question about the man’s actions.

not only hat

Considering the possibility of the man shedding more than just clothing.

and blouse, shoes

Expanding the list of items that might have been shed.

and panties

Including undergarments in the list.

and bra,

Completing the list of potentially discarded items.

had he shed maybe

Speculating on the man’s actions.

even the woman

Considering the shedding of a woman’s identity or presence.

he was wearing,

Suggesting that the man might have shed a feminine persona.

or was it me

Introducing uncertainty about the observer’s identity.

moulting, shedding

Metaphorical language comparing the observer’s experience to shedding.

vestiges, old investments,

Describing the discarded elements as remnants of the past.

rushing forever

Indicating a perpetual forward movement.

towards a perfect

Describing the direction of the rush.

coupling with naked nothing

Introducing the idea of a spiritual or transcendent union.

in a world without places.

Describing a hypothetical world devoid of physical or cultural distinctions.