Horrific Highway

HORRIFIC HIGHWAY

Driving at the speed allowed
On Highway N17, traffic ploughing,
Zig zagging, racing, and over taking
Accidents in the making,
Motor bikes screaming past,
Driving fanatically fast,
Showing off thinking it’s a blast,
A terrifying scene,
Spades, The queen
Of death on the road,
A taxi collides with a
Garbage truck,
Taxi overloaded, what
Incalculable bad luck, people just fly
As most the passengers die,
And garbage and muck,
Fall out of the truck.
Driver trapped underneath,
Fire men, paramedics
Try to pull him out from beneath,
Traffic police guiding cars, into
One lane,
For some, it will never be
The same,
As ambulances carry the
The injured away,
To perhaps see another day!
The dead covered with silver
Thermal blankets are waiting
For the mortuary van
Damn,
Don’t want to see any more,
Want to run,
But trapped in heavy
Traffic jam,
 I want to scream and scram,
Suddenly the police open,
The road, 
Other cars also broken,
But minor injuries
Thank God,
1st responders, I must
In awe, laud!



NON METERED TAXI’S IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE ALLOWED UP TO 15 PASSENGERS IN A MINI TAXI
AND UP TO 22 IN THE LARGER ONES – THIS WAS AN OVERLOADED MINI
TAXI – MORE OR LESS HALF THE PEOPLE SURVIVED.  THIS OCCURRED JUST OUTSIDE 
JOHANNESBURG
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

Poem

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Callus Avatar
May 26, 2019 at 3:10 PM
Your busy highway, traffic and accidents galore left me breathless, Jenny! You narrate with the ability of one who has an eye for detail. Good thing I don't have a driving licence! ~ Warm regards & Hugs // paul
Callus Avatar
May 28, 2019 at 3:28 PM
Oh...one needs a driving licence in Malta, Jenny!! There is too much traffic here and foreigners take quite a while to get used to it. Warm regards // paul
Proxenos Avatar
May 27, 2019 at 1:19 PM
Thank-you Paul, what a lovely comment - driving anywhere in the world is like crossing over a war zone! I don't suppose you need a driver's licence in Malta - the infrastructure is such that commuting is easier than in 3rd world countries around the world. Warm regards and hugs, Jenny.
Laurie Avatar
May 19, 2019 at 11:50 PM
Hello Jennifer ... road crashes are a blight the world over, but to have so many die in one crash; crikey! Sad, but a fact of the modern way of life Jennifer - Lindsay
Proxenos Avatar
May 20, 2019 at 1:07 PM
It was awful and quite heart-rending - and because the traffic had been slowed down enormously, there was a terrifying panoramic view! It affected me for days after! Thanks for a heartfelt comment Lindsay! Hugs, Jennifer.
Andresen Avatar
May 16, 2019 at 1:21 PM
- A terrifying picture you have caught here in your poem, my dear soul sister - We have strict rules in traffic in Norway (and I am grateful for that) - We do not have long prison sentences ... but, we have to pay ... large sums of money - This traffic in Johannesburg reminds me when I was in Thailand ... I was terrified - Take care, my friend :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
Proxenos Avatar
May 17, 2019 at 1:06 AM
The penny has just dropped that you live in Norway - knew you were Norwegian, but just realized you live there also - I'm sure there are only few who break the law in Norway, and your crime is negligible. What a beautiful country my dear friend you live in, love your fjords and your calm and serene way of life! Hugs my soul sister, thank you for your loving concern, Jennifer
Wolf Avatar
May 16, 2019 at 12:06 PM
Sounds like the grass is no greener on any of the other sides!! Highways tend to be more and more clogged, and traffic more and more aggravating worldwide these days! :) gw
Proxenos Avatar
May 17, 2019 at 12:56 AM
Lack of respect for traffic rules and people become somewhat aggressive on highways - population explosion is to blame , and as a result a lot whole lot more cars managing on the same old, same old highways. Hugs, Jennifer.
Beilschmidt Sr. Avatar
May 16, 2019 at 9:27 AM
Wow! What a rat race. Well penned
Proxenos Avatar
May 17, 2019 at 12:37 AM
And a dangerous one too! Almost like a warzone travelling on highways worldwide one has to to drive defensively. Thanks for dropping by Allen and for a very apt comment! Hugs, Jennifer.
Horne Avatar
May 16, 2019 at 7:27 AM
wow, sad & scary write, my friend
Proxenos Avatar
May 16, 2019 at 7:45 AM
It was horrible Jack and simultaneously we heard that my husband's best friend has brain cancer - worst day that I have experienced in a very long time. Thanks for the comment my friend - all the best, hugs, Jennifer.
Marcum Wong Avatar
May 15, 2019 at 3:12 AM
How sad Jennifer. It seems you were personally involved in this horrific scene. You wrote this with poignancy and feeling immortalizing the incident. : ) xxoo
Proxenos Avatar
May 15, 2019 at 5:36 AM
I have never seen such a horrific scene, absolute chaos, mayhem, screams, I was absolutely traumatized, plus we heard that one of Elias's friends has been confirmed to have brain cancer. It was all too much in one day. Thanks Connie, you made me cry with your heartfelt, sensitive comment, hugs, Jennifer.
Onclaud Avatar
May 14, 2019 at 3:37 PM
ohh, riveting piece which i can relate too... traffic and accidents happen often in my city, jen... so well done!..huggs
Proxenos Avatar
May 15, 2019 at 1:11 AM
I't mostly happens when people do not keep to the restricted speed limit and at traffic lights - alway happens that an unsuspecting innocent victim is involved. Thanks for a great comment Nette, Drive carefully! Hugs, Jen.
Mcconnell Avatar
May 14, 2019 at 3:16 PM
What a horrible experience Jennifer, I can understand how you must have felt. You penned this extremely well in what must have been frightening and difficult to write. Blessings always,Gordon
Proxenos Avatar
May 15, 2019 at 1:01 AM
Hi Gordon, I needed share this horrible, horrible accident as I could net get it out of my mind. This is the highway we take initially from our home if we are going in or around Johannesburg which then subdivides into many other highways. Inevitable, due to speed, we see at least one fatal accident a week! Thank you for such a heartfelt comment Gordon, God Bless you! Hugs - Jennifer.
Pandit Avatar
May 14, 2019 at 2:31 PM
I read your poem..as the scene unfolded in front of me..that was truly horrific, as serious accidents tend to be..you told the story well, Jennifer.
Proxenos Avatar
May 14, 2019 at 2:48 PM
Hi Vijay, absolutely horrific, I felt sick to the pit of my stomach and I can't erase those dreadful moments that I wished I had never seen - thank -you for a wonderful comment Vijay Hugs, Jennifer.
Cunningham Avatar
May 14, 2019 at 12:44 PM
More fares means more money so greed played a part, it must have made the vehicle unstable with all that extra weight. So tragic Jennifer. Tom
Proxenos Avatar
May 14, 2019 at 2:52 PM
You are right on both counts Tom - I know from our domestic helper how afraid they are to get into these taxis but they have no choice or other means of transport, we often give her, and our gardener a lift. Hugs, Jennifer.
Kelii Kekaula Avatar
May 14, 2019 at 11:12 AM
Through your words, I can sadly recreate that horrendous scene, appropriate changes would be idyllic for all concern, thank you for your sharing and bringing it to light, Aloha wk
Proxenos Avatar
May 14, 2019 at 2:55 PM
Thank-you for a heartfelt comment William - I had to share it in order to let it go, it was like a war-zone, just terrible! Hugs, Jennifer.
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