papa told me
to wear my reflector belt
so that
i'm safe
so that the cars won't hit me
he told me
to make sure
to wear it so
it's visible
like a warning sign
before i'm pummeled
into the road
before i'm rolling off
of that drunk guy's windshield
like my burrito
thump
"oh my god"
when i take it out of
its wrap
listening to him panic
and run away
too scared
that he will get in trouble
too scared
to call for help
papa told me
to cover the parts
you'll know they'll see
tell the other kids
to wrap their waists
in that ugly orange neon strip
so they're safe
so they're protected
cause papa knows
drivers don't learn
he knows how drivers
slam their cars
their wheels
somehow keeping them
from moving
as they drive in reverse
again and again
until there's nothing left
of you to hit
papa knows
that they don't
see the signs
that they won't
hear you screaming
that they will
keep coming at full force
100 mph
until they hit a wall
and crash
papa knows
that no one teaches
the driver
how to not hit things
he thinks aren't there
he knows of
the drivers
that won't hear
you screaming stop
because of
that fuzziness
in their head
because of that pleasure
because of how much
they're seeking to be
numb
papa knows of
the drivers
who will only come out
to scream at you
for getting in their way
for not putting on
your reflector belt
papa knows
that the driver
will only blame you
for not reflecting a light
the driver will only
come for you
because
you're just another
unmovable object
papa tells me
to wear my reflector belt
and i tell papa
that i'm fine
i tell him
i'm safe
as i walk
my way through
a typhoon
in the darkest times of the night
watching
headlights
headlights
glare their lights on me
hearing cars
honk
honk
honk
like they're letting me know
everything i'm not hiding
i tell papa
i'm fine
as the wheels crush me
under their heavy weight
as their gas
spills on me
and i'm just another
thing to light on fire
i tell papa
"i know you got the best intentions,
but just trying to find the right words to say"
and he tells me
i'm not listening
to be careful
because he knows of these
stupid fucking drivers.
YOU ARE READING
the dawn of us
Poetrycover by duvetjae a series of written poems about love, trauma, and moving on. disclaimer: this books discusses many serious topics, read with caution.
