The car ran over the cat.
I am on the right side of the ride.
A woman shouts, <Stop!
I’m just right there.>
Pointing.
<Dangerous to alight here,
In the middle of the street.>
the driver said.

The car ran over the cat.
I am on the right side of the ride.
<Drop me in front of Citibank>
I said.
A taho vendor is serving a lady.
<How much?> I asked.
Twenty-five pesos.
<Give me one.>

The car ran over the cat.
I am on the right side of the ride.
In my mind:
<The city could be cruel to cats.
So you better know which
Is right.>

Sometimes the song comes late at night,
A lazy time surrounded by
The light, when paper's never there
Except an envelope or three
Collecting dust and penalties,
In need of stamps, in need of checks
And when eventually I send,
With interest principally enclosed,
These notes to Citibank I know
They won't be read, the warning says
Do not enclose, and yet I think
This can't be correspondence, no?

My children both tell me I drive like an old man.
I own up to it proudly for that’s what I am.
I keep cars “forever”, much longer than stocks,
replacing, as needed, brakes, tires and shocks.

Little kids are a handful; let parents take heed.
They need to be monitored due to their speed.
I was driving to Citibank to take out some cash-
from  between two parked cars a little girl dashed

I thank God I saw her dart to and fro.
I also am grateful I was driving so slow.
I stepped on the brake and heard the discs grind.
averting a tragedy, barely, in time.

Her beautiful mother, her eyes close to tears,
retrieved her young daughter, soothing her fears.
Our eyes locked a long moment as our hearts settled down.
Then, with a nod, I relaxed and drove on