Intersectionality - June 9 2022

 

Intersectionality

June 9 2022

The red light

brooks no dissent;

it's President for life

in the one-party state

of traffic signals.

Roundabouts

are more democratic;

anyone can enter,

although choices

have consequence.

But, as we've come to expect

the politicking never stops,

the same empty promises

circling eternally 'round.

Although by far the most challenging

is the 4-way stop.

This can verge on anarchy

if trust is lost.

Sure, there are rules

     —  first in, first out

  and left defers to right  —

but you must be wary of scofflaws

lead foots

and the paralyzed driver

who dithers and frets.

Above all, it's a test of humanity;

the fine art of negotiation

in a stop/start dance

of nodding heads

and inching ahead

and politely waved hands.

Gentle braking

and the feathering of gas,

eye contact

and wordless signalling.

And sometimes

when there's grid-lock

a naked act of aggression.

Idling cars

and jack rabbit starts

are bad for the environment,

fender-benders

an unacceptable hazard.

But in the 4-way stop

we are compelled to work together

for the common good.

Here, it tends to be a friendly wave

of you go first.

A country town

where mostly old people live,

too small

for more than one traffic light.

So we roll down our windows and chat,

a honking horn

or angry voice

almost never heard.