Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE SAFE DRIVER, by WALT MASON



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SAFE DRIVER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Along the street I drive my car, my rate of
Last Line: "gets it in the neck, is he who swears by safety first!"
Subject(s): Automobile Drivers; Roads; Paths; Trails


ALONG the street I drive my car, my rate of speed is safe and slow. I pull up
where the children are, and give pedestrians a show. Some day pedestrians will
be, by statute, from our highways cast, for any candid man must see that they're

a nuisance, first and last. But since they are permitted here, in spite of
motorists' appeals, I hold it wise my car to steer so they won't get beneath the

wheels. I watch the street where'er I go, and dodge all live stock gone astray,

and toot my horn that men may know my juggernaut is on the way. The road rules I

have all by heart—I learned the whole blamed list, complete, and no man
ever sees my cart upon the wrong side of the street. And while I exercise such
care, while modestly my motor hums, along the teeming thoroughfare some badly
locoed speed fan comes. He knocks the sawdust from some gent who hasn't time to

climb a tree, and then, without or with intent, he slams his car right into me.

I say, when from the dismal wreck I climb, and realize the worst, "The man who
gets it in the neck, is he who swears by Safety First!"





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