The light blue convertible Mustang
with the bondo on the left rear fender
speeds through the stop sign
at the corner of Elm and Baker
and nothing much happens
as a result.
There comes no shriek
of rubber on asphalt.
No exploding bicycle parts
or flailing bloodied bodies.
Nothing at all but Mrs. Dickey
clicking her tongue disapprovingly
as she sits and rocks on her porch.
The sales executive takes a long lunch
to go and buy spaghetti sauce and Milk Bones
at the Kroger a few blocks from his office.
He forgets the coupons
his wife gave him
and has to pay full price.
This causes a wry look later
tonight, but nothing either of them
feels is worth fighting over.
So he gives the dog a Milk Bone,
she cooks the spaghetti,
and together, as they wait
for the water to boil, they gaze
out the front window, where
Mrs. Dickey sees them,
smiles, waves,
and goes on with her rocking.