Run Red Lights
When you were young,
one phrase ratted you out
in a dogged pursuit:
Run Red Lights.
Run when someone says stop,
Run when everyone is looking
when they attempt to teach you a lesson,
just cough
pretend you didn’t listen,
pretend you didn’t care.
Run Red Lights,
ignore the oncoming collision
and climb new heights
desperately believe in your own immortality,
despite the scrapes and bruises
of your failed morality
all the attempts to be nice
to that pretty girl in class,
only to be laughed at
and fall on your ass.
So you gave up that childish hat
and stupid grin
you gave up any attempt at hiding,
so you could begin
so you could Run Red Lights
Run,
through every warning sign
in your rear view mirror
Run,
despite the pain and furore.
When they told you to stop,
when they told you to pull over,
you continued,
you asked for more,
you asked for her hand in marriage,
even though you were bored
so now she’s a widow
dancing at the edge of a sword.
The sound of sirens,
the screech of tires on tarmac,
something draws her to the window,
she parts the curtains,
she parts her hair,
she parts with any illusions
that you belong somewhere.
Ignore the rectitudes of life
and the offering of stale airplane food,
embrace oblivion
and seek the sights
you chase your own death
and Run Red Lights.
