Beating the Lights

Tiny fragments of glass
scattered, shining in the light
whole lives and loves shattered
limbs crushed, faces broken,
hopes squashed

Dreams lay destroyed,
resting in the hospital
smeared across dashboards
intelligence is strewn around,
has to be scooped off the tarmac

metal tears metal, rips flesh
revealing the bones
stomachs are stuffed into steering columns
children are thrown through windscreens
cyclists over handlebars and under wheels
pedestrians learn how to fly

panels will be beaten out
bones will be mended
wheel rims will be straightened
wounds will be stitched
streets will be swept
cars will be cleaned

memories will remain
scars will bear witness
the glass will lay, inert
catching the light
capturing the vivacity of
lost hopes and lost lives

a lapse in concentration
an imperative for speed
the fog of intoxication

metal rips at metal
glass cuts, people bleed