Rear View
Mused my son, driving on a freeway,
“Is living & driving, alike in any way?”
I wonder’d — don’t we drive, looking ahead
But, live present in a past already led?
Lane-to-lane, we’re patient when switching;
Making switches in life, anxiously bitching?
Driving, we’re ok with visibility, few feet ahead;
Living? Imagine hurdles eons out in dread?
On the road, we expect, assume blind spots;
In life, upset and explode when we hit trouble spots?
Driving, WE steer and control the pedals
In life, driven by others’ babbles & quibbles?
On road, protected by comprehensive insurance;
In life, just hope & heft, no other assurance?
Driving decisions, dictated by front-view.
Life decisions, influenced by rear-view?
….
Pulling to the kerb, one hand on steering, another on gear-shift, foot on the brake pedal, my son complained, “I asked if living is like driving and you pen a poem !!! 😖”.
I explained, “Look, point is, you don’t control what’s in your rear-view nor what’s in your front-view. What you can control, right now, are in your hands — You can steer, you can move or you can stop. Your choice. So, driving is like living, after all. 😏”.
