i think i can make it before the train comes

my mother didn't drive

a car

until she reached the age of 50,

and the car

proved

her inexperience.

a new dent appeared every other

day.

but she didn't drive

because there was a long stretch

where we didn't

have a car.

after the divorce dad got the
Chevy Impala and took

it with him.

but she tried to drive

although none of us kids would

ever dare

to get into the front seat 

of the car with her.

we cowered in the back

in fetal positions.

it was before seat belts and

air bags,

cameras and automatic

braking

it was a tin can rolling on

tires basically,

with Dean Martin singing

That's Amore

on the radio.

she used to grip the steering

wheel with one hand,

and sit as forward

as she could

on a pillow she crocheted,

the other hand

resting on the horn,

ready to blow.