here I come

moving faster than I ever imagined possible

careening toward what

I never know

you can't tell me

but here we go

I try to look out the window

everything flies by in a blur

I remember last time

veering suddenly

off the road. over the cliff. out of my mind

when the dust settled I climbed the muddy bank and looked down at the wreckage, smoldering below

sparks taking to the warm breeze

crepitatious windsong in my ears

the scent of singed hair in my nostrils

"Be more careful in the future" said a voice.

Indignantly I scoffed. "Obviously."

then you arrive, in a different car this time

"They make them safer now." we agree.

"And we'll handle things differently this time."

behind the wheel once more

on this winding road once more

and just there

around the next bend

the faintest wisps of lingering smoke