The Perils of Crossing the Street

Once there were rules on which we all agreed Red meant stop; green meant go; as for yellow -- O.K., some thought it meant 'speed' ... But now I'm not sure with what I see on the streets Where on red they go ahead when no one's there and on green, cars accelerate, go on a tear... The screech of brakes to let an old-timer cross turns my heart to tomato sauce And the honking at pedestrians with smart phones I shut my eyes and open them slowly Are they yet walking? ~ or do they lie prone?... O, for village life back in 1923 dirt roads with horses or donkeys and the bank President's black Model T...