My mother cannot bear the way I drive.
I cannot bear my mother’s reactions to my driving
like when I’m writing poetry about my driving
while behind the wheel.

She hisses and grips herself tightly
as protection from all the damage
I have yet to cause her.
Not once have I gotten into an accident with my mother
yet she seems to scream internally
and she often does cry externally
when I race through the streets
keeping pace with the other cars
failing to cause a single scar on her face.

I have generated for her many a wrinkle
many a worry line
many a tear.
Her fears about my potential tickets
are making her sicker and sicker.
A quicker way to kill my mother
would be to simply crash the vehicle
but I am resistant to such a plan.

I do wish she wouldn’t tense up so often
doubt the brakes with such rapidity.
I want her to trust me
and my driving
but then
I know the number of accidents I’ve had
without her in the car
and she has good reason to be concerned.