He Stands In the Street

With traffic flowing he stands in the street Arms stretched, hands up, commanding a halt Obedience and fate will now compete His adrenaline pumping like a drumbeat His eyes shut tightly sting with warm sweat's salt With traffic flowing he stands in the street Flinching at each tire screech, yet never leaves his feet As if they were glued down to the hot asphalt Obedience and fate will now compete The driver’s brake and squirm in their seat Some swerve, eking by in black, white and cobalt With traffic flowing he stands in the street He holds position and will not retreat His reasons hid far away and locked in a vault Obedience and fate will now compete How many humans are more sour than sweet If they don’t try the brake, is he solely at fault With traffic flowing he stands in the street Obedience and fate will now compete November 2, 2022 Third-Person Villanelle Poetry Contest Sponsor: L Milton Hankins