Traffic

I have a strange superpower 

to be completely calm 

in the midst of the most insane 

metropolitan rush-hour traffic  

The crazier the bumper to bumper 

the more zen I become 

I think it frightens my passengers
because it’s like my body just surrenders 

to the complete lack of control 

I have over the situation  

My butt gets heavier 

my jaw relaxed

my senses acute  

I am concentration

I accelerate  

I break   

I weave through lanes

like young Michael Jordan 

in a playoff game 

I become a master of observation 

I can be in the middle of a city

under 3 layers of expressway ramps 

surrounded by semi’s 

in 6 lanes of traffic 

and pause

to marvel at the enormity of the machine 

the choreography of movement  

I easily release all expectations

combine minute quick reaction time 

with big picture strategy 

calculating moves 

faster than Bobby Fischer

I effortlessly maintain control of my emotions 

rarely lose my patience 

seldom ever panic 

go with the flow  

at home in myself

Fully present with buddhist mojo

If only I could do that with the rest of my life 

If only I could respond to everyone 

changing speeds 

changing lanes 

stopping hard

swerving sharp 

as gracefully 

as I do in traffic 

Maybe I have been in enough accidents to know

that you can hardly ever see the crash before it comes 

I wish I could maneuver through 

These 24 hour sun revolutions

the way I glide through traffic

Loosen this white knuckle grip 

on my egomaniacal sense of immortality

Fix this cracked windshield 

So I can see the opportunity 

to just play the game 

Stop the incessant anxiety driven 

useless insistence on prediction

and use my imagination 

Lighten the fuck up 

and just have some fun 

for a change 

Drive like my life depends upon it

because it’s quite possible 

that I only get one