There’s always a quick decision
To be made
And you’re always driving too fast.
Stop fast,
Stomp brakes,
Send heavy purse flying off passenger seat,
Onto the floor
Or
Just keep going
And hope for the best.
You’re caught in that limbo
Between green and red
Between safe passage
And full stop –
Wasted time.
You only ever pause
(To think it over)
For a split second,
And usually you’re not even
Going anywhere you want to be.
You just want to
Keep
Moving.
If the wind is in your hair
Music pouring out your windows
Hands gripping the wheel
You can focus on
All of that
And ignore the rest:
The unoccupied seats of your car.
The empty beds at home.
The number of wine bottles
In your recycle bin
Or the absent scent of your aftershave.
Flying under yellow lights
You escape the long thoughts
Of a full stop.
You stay out of the red.
Warned that a stop is fast approaching
You pound the gas harder
Grip the wheel tighter
Envision the yellow turning red
Directly overhead.