The drivers never stop for anyone
on foot whom caution bids to hesitate.
A light ahead has no effect; they gun
their right extremities and race to wait.

Pedestrians are somnolent and pale,
too likely to ignore or waddle, swing
an empty arm, attend a phone, and fail
to note the radius of anything.

There hums in me a strong didactic tune
that alternates from nice to mean as quick
as assholes honk their horns. My inner voice
condemns them and I’d punish them as soon
as blink, except that I can watch them sick
themselves without my help, by stupid choice.