Tallahassee Driving

upon hard grey streets of asphalt I drive through morn’s muted orange glow white headlights shine, red brake lights blink in time with changing signals red, yellow, green disoriented city visitors a hindrance to the flow why at seven a.m. now stopped two cars back waiting for green a woman in a minivan ahead primps methodically striving in effect to give herself a perm. the man beside is engrossed in the news early edition of today’s tabloid spread over the wheel will he know when it’s time to go behind, a husband and wife, I assume each talk animatedly on their phones while obnoxious unrestrained children carouse a movie playing on the DVD an ancient pickup stopped in the suicide lane right turn flashing “let me in!” green, the light changes, yet still we wait one, two, three and horns start to blare shaken are they from hypnotic states virtual hair salons, libraries, and phone booths abandoned traffic moves once again in earnest until the very next crowded intersection.