Accident

Every time I see lights turning red

I resist the temptation to

speed on through,

hoping that maybe

some unobservant driver

in a hurry

speeds off the line.

As I sit patiently

waiting my turn,

I watch my tiny fiberglass bubble

skidding across the intersection,

wrapping itself around

the steel grill

of some old indestructible carriage,

heavy with time.

I can almost hear

the sound of my own head

smacking against the window,

feel the warm red stickiness

bleeding into my vision.

Its hard not to tempt fate.

Driving fast on those

dark roller coaster rural roads.

Especially in Fall.

Knowing somewhere there is a

many pointed buck

leading his lady across the road.

I find myself wishing to see

the proverbial

"deer in the headlights."

I can almost sense my muscles reacting,

the surge of adrenaline,

swerving at the last second.

A second too late.

I can hear the tires squealing

in protest

against the change of inertia.

Centrifugal force

pinning me to my seat

to watch with

anticipating gleeful horror

an antler or maybe a tree branch

shatter through the windshield.

But I drive on wondering,

what its like

gasping for air

through a punctured windpipe

and choking on your own blood

when no one is around.

Is a mind like this

still under warranty?

My car may have full coverage

but my body does not.

Unless you count a body bag.