Of Angst Toward a Stoplight

or

"I HATE the ----ing stoplight at 22nd and Grand"

Oh, tower of metal
and of light
You turn my 'noontime
into night

I wait and wait
for you to turn;
all my hopes fade,
my temper burns

I sit facing north,
tapping the wheel
To wait for this stoplight
is less than ideal.

Alas! Alas!
What do I see?
"Do Not Walk"
flashes next to me

My heart leaps;
My hands sweat --
From green light to orange;
from orange light to red

The moment -- the moment!
The time has come!
But oncoming traffic
continues to on-come

The seconds tick
My hopes fade
I wait to turn left
through a ne'erending parade

Foiled! Foiled!
I've missed my chance
The glaring red light
resumes its trance.

I sit, again,
for an eternity more
I started at three;
it soon will be four

I run through excuses
for why I am late
It's the fourth time this week,
and that's just great.

Finally, now,
a lifetime past,
I make my left turn
onto Grand Ave. at last ...

But my really bad commute
is about to get worse,
'cuz the light's turning red
down at 21st.