Green, Yellow, Red

Photo by Talha Uğuz: https://www.pexels.com/photo/traffic-light-at-night-with-green-signal-34597052/

Green, Yellow, Red

gotta get through

can’t waste travel time sittin still—would you?—

at the intersection of Busy Blvd and Speed St

got things to do and people to meet

green means go-go-go

honk at or pass the slow

yellow means adrenaline

hit the brake or go all in, revvin the engine

red means make a choice

as your heart beats against the inner law-abiding voice

that says

stop

unless you drop the beat, face the heat,

plow

through

risking your ride and your hide

for the road biscuit: the pride

of reaching the other side

a paltry prize of pavement proportions

and ETA contortions

hopefully

it won’t end with you on the ground

knocked violently around

from a possible crush after rushing the red

go, slow or slam, stop or steam ahead

what dangerous roads we tread

when we get behind the wheel

impatient—and out we peal, maybe with a squeal

we become different people when we have feet of lead

we might decide to throw off caution and run the red.