Accident

I witnessed a collision
When I was eight.
A man ran a stop light.

My dad said, “Oh, I hope
He makes it,” and I looked up
And he didn’t make it,
And hit a car with a mother and child.

Whether from the trauma of that day,
Or just basic parsimony,
I didn’t get a driver’s license until
I was married, graduated,
And expecting a child.

So when, after twelve years of driving,
I was in a collision, I was surprised.

After I realized the accident was inevitable,
I watched the front corner of my car
Crumple into the passenger door
Of the other and thought,

So this is an accident. It’s not that bad.

As peace washed over me.