Steeling Beauty

As you glide across
the crosswalk
wide enough
for a river
hair tumbling
breasts juggling
with every step
you never bother
to look for what’s
coming up behind you
as if your beauty
can stop traffic
as if we should
all stop to take notice
but traffic doesn’t
work that way
despite what everyone
has convinced you of
for your entire
life. Beauty will
always lose out
to steel when death
comes down the street.

10/24/10