Skid

Hesitation
A second
     no, less

    Quick
       I
Footbrakeflat
Armturnwheel
      All the way
           the right way
          But

Too late

I was
    too late
A second
    no, less
One gasp
     Two lives
     Screaming
          Too late


Metalspeed
Skin and bone
Cannot resist
     Metalspeed

Humans don't scream
    like wheels
Screaming
     metalspeed
     Once  
A forever Once

I braked and I turned
    but
Hesitation
     A second
          no, less
I braked and
Turned the wheel
like
I was supposed to
    Right
      but not
         Right on Time

Destroyer
     KillerKiller
Badpersonmonster
     Killer
Because I braked and
     Turned
     Too late

A gasp too late
     A tear too late
A second
     no, less
     but too late
Too late
    To avoid the
     Skid

*

Previously published in “artisan.”