*****
6:00 P.M: I'm Currently driving while I'm writing this. Well not quite literally, the cars aren't moving. The sixth ring road is totally blocked. Traffic is a mess.
It must be an accident. That was my first thought.
I really didn't think too much about it. My mind was busy wondering when I'd reach my class. Just when I thought I'd be on time! It's 6:05 ...
A while later, a police car passed in a hurry next to me on the emergency lane (I was on the far left), it's sirens echoing ... God, it is an accident ...
Still, I wasn't moved. I removed my Ronan Keating CD, & replaced it with a George Michael one. I was trying to kill the time.
But then an ambulance came on too. This time, the siren was a bit chilling. I wondered if it's really serious. My train of thoughts trailed off to the ones who do such a job. The paramedics. I remembered a guy who works as a paramedic whom I met in one my English Classes at Expression. I thought how noble that job is.
I continued on listening to the music, but not really listening. I suppose to be in class! I think to myself as I glance over to the clock. It's 6:25 now.
Then just a while ago, a fire truck passed! That's when my heart sank, & I became really apprehensive. What if it's really serious? What if it's someone I know? It couldn't be mom, I was just with her on the phone. What if it's my brother?
& before I could list all my family members, my eyes started to well up in emotion. What if I really lost one of my relatives? Why this thought never occurred to me before.
Why do we take everything for granted?
Another police car came near, stopped on the left & right a head of me on the emergency lane. The policeman, gets out, & heads to a car that was on the same lane as the police car. I wondered if he was giving him a ticket.
Then it hit me, I might get out! I just have to ask the policeman if I can take another road. So, when he finished with what he was doing, I quickly opened the window & asked him what to do. He said: "You can take the South Alsurra exit, then onto the fifth ring road". But that would take so long; the exit was pretty far. So I asked what was the matter. "An accident", was all he said. So, I asked: "How long will it take for the road to clear? About ten minutes?" he agreed. It was 6: 32.
Fortunately, the road started moving, & in 5 minutes, I was driving 100 km.
6:45 P.M: I entered the class & smiled to Mrs. Rajee, (They don't mind coming late that much). I decided not to say anything, as I didn't want to interrupt her even more, but just when I was about to sit, another girl entered & instantly she said that there was an accident, & that she's sorry. Then, I decided to talk about it. The class was not that interested. They took it for granted. Ironically, they were just discussing our Essay homework, which talks about Accidents!
I was thinking this morning about what I shall be writing, & I never knew that I was going to encounter all of this!
Funny how everything seems to be talking about accidents today! I was just on MySpace, & I randomly & coincidentally found this poem (I googled to get the Writer's & poem's names):
The Wreck On Highway 109
by Ruth Gillis
A drunk man in an Oldsmobile
they said had run the light
that caused the six-car pileup
on 109 that night.
When broken bodies lay about
and blood was everywhere,
the sirens screamed out elegies,
for death was in the air.
A mother, trapped inside her car,
was heard above the noise;
her plaintive plea near split the air:
"Oh, God, please spare my boys!"
She fought to loose her pinioned hands;
she struggled to get free,
but mangled metal held her fast
in grim captivity.
Her frightened eyes then focused on
where the back seat once had been,
but all she saw was broken glass
and two children's seats crushed in.
Her twins were nowhere to be seen;
she did not hear them cry,
and then she prayed they'd been thrown free,
"Oh, God, don't let them die!"
Then firemen came and cut her loose,
but when they searched the back,
they found therein no little boys,
but the seat belts were intact.
They thought the woman had gone mad
and was traveling alone,
but when they turned to question her,
they discovered she was gone.
Policemen saw her running wild
and screaming above the noise
in beseeching supplication,
"Please help me find my boys!
They're four years old and wear blue shirts;
their jeans are blue to match."
One cop spoke up, "They're in my car,
and they don't have a scratch.
They said their daddy put them there
and gave them each a cone,
then told them both to wait for Mom
to come and take them home.
I've searched the area high and low,
but I can't find their dad.
He must have fled the scene, I guess,
and that is very bad."
The mother hugged the twins and said,
while wiping at a tear,
"He could not flee the scene, you see,
for he's been dead a year."
The cop just looked confused and asked,
"Now, how can that be true?"
The boys said, "Mommy, Daddy came
and left a kiss for you.
He told us not to worry
and that you would be all right,
and then he put us in this car
with the pretty, flashing light.
We wanted him to stay with us,
because we miss him so,
but Mommy, he just hugged us tight
and said he had to go.
He said someday we'd understand
and told us not to fuss,
and he said to tell you, Mommy,
he's watching over us."
The mother knew without a doubt
that what they spoke was true,
for she recalled their dad's last words,
"I will watch over you."
The firemen's notes could not explain
the twisted, mangled car,
and how the three of them escaped
without a single scar.
But on the cop's report was scribed,
in print so very fine,
An angel walked the beat tonight
on Highway 109.
Copyright © 1999 Ruth Gillis
All Rights Reserved
"The Wreck On Highway 109" received a
First Place Award in the April 1999 issue of Poet's Review.
If you liked this poem & would like to check other works by Ruth Gillis, you can visit:
House of Poetry.com
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