Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Lots of Commuting

Perhaps I've been driving during rush hour too much?


Trust on the Road

I trust that
  my mechanic keeps my brakes working.

I want to trust that
  your mechanic keeps your brakes working.

I trust that
  your car has turn signals,
  although I do not trust
  that you know how to use them.

I'd like to trust
  that you won't stray or swerve over the center line,
  that you are paying at least as much attention
    to traffic as you are to
      your children in the back seat,
      your cell phone conversation,
      your makeup application,
      your coffee and donuts,
      your newspaper.

I cannot trust
  that you know the height/width/length/turning radius
    of the truck you rented.

I cannot trust
  that you know how to safely
    navigate a rotary/roundabout/traffic circle.

I cannot trust
  that you know how to
    avoid hydroplaning
  or
    manage a skid on ice.

I want
  to look into your eyes
    across a four-way-stop intersection
  and see that
    you too,
      have trust issues.

10 comments:

Crafty Green Poet said...

Sometimes I'm glad I don't drive! I'm sure that if I did, I would recite this poem to myself many times!

paris parfait said...

Does this piece ever stir up memories, including of spinning on ice and going into a ditch - but knowing better than to brake. And always having to look out for the other guy - they don't call it "defensive driving" for nothing. Great piece!

Clare said...

Right on!! It's amazing we arrive home at the end of the day as often as we do, and as intact as we do. Well done.

Rob Kistner said...

Wonderful... just great! I'm smiling hugely, broadly, at how very damned true this piece is... ;)

I have always driven, car and motorcycle, with the clear understanding that we are all 'bozos on this bus' -- and we are driving to defend our lives...

sister AE said...

Hi, Crafty,
I've been thinking for a long time (while I drive) about driving being about trust and pieces of it have definitely been repeated along my roads.

Thank you, Paris and Clare.

Hello, Rob,
I like that "bozos on this bus." Thanks.

Bix said...

Loved it.

gautami tripathy said...

After I almost got killed, I stopped driving. I feel much better not driving!

I liked reading this!

sister AE said...

Thanks, Bix. BTW I love reading your blog, it always gives me something to think about.


Gautami,
I have a friend who has been in some serious accidents. Her driving mantra includes these instructions, "don't hydroplane" and "always miss the moose." Thanks for the comment.

Bernie said...

What a great poem/story this is, very thought provoking indeed...
Here from Michele's this afternoon...
Bernie

sister AE said...

Welcome, Bernie.