PED XING

PED XING, kreyzblue, Oct. 8

in school you learned
to stop and look

left and right,
before crossing the street.

remember
to stop on red
walk on green

you were taught
to be careful

stepping upon
those white stripes
your shadow follows

humming,
to stop on red
walk on green

years would turn their pages
like taxis' fading colors

you bravely dare
each speeding curse

forgetting
to stop on red
walk on green

hit by a bus, a truck
you saw but somehow late

that courage is neither a virtue
nor trust, a friend

breathless,
you run on red
you rest on green