Friday, December 12, 2008

New York Minute

I knew it instantly; the light had turned.
The driver in the car behind, concerned
leaned on his horn, as if he thought me sleeping.
I don't drive fast, it's true: some call it creeping.
I'm not a speed freak, that's all. I've not earned

disapprobation on this scale. I've learned
to take it easy, given up (or spurned)
commuter rat race. When I heard the beeping
I knew it instantly—

he was the type who usually returned
from drives with each last shred of patience burned,
nerves in a tangle and blood pressure leaping.
Unhealthy fellow: does he know he's keeping
time on clocks in courts that have adjourned?
I knew it instantly.


Collection available! Knocking from Inside

7 comments:

lilly said...

Great piece!

linda may said...

I know what that feels like, so annoying, but what can you do with fools who live their live like that except ignore them.

Anonymous said...

Was that you I was honking at? Sorry :)

A great poem, capturing the moment and attitude perfectly :)

Ya Haqq!

Roan said...

Nice piece. So like rush hour traffic!

paisley said...

i am blessed to live in a mountainous region,, where speed kills as there is no birm,, and the curves have to be respected...

every year we get a number of fatalities because insane drivers much like those you describe here,, have exhausted their patience... and choose to "see if they can make it" instead....

one such accident occurred last week just moments from where i work,,, and another i posted about just days ago on ...why paisley???

an ordinary man

Linda Jacobs said...

I like that second-to-last sentence! I had to read it a couple times to get it. Perfect!

Tumblewords: said...

So true - nice work! I've converted from a fast lane person to a slow laner!