As I walk across

A busy city street,

The crosswalk becomes

A wide concrete tightrope ‑‑

A car waits for me

To finish crossing,

Champing at the bit,

Looming like a cobra,

Its turn signal winking

At a rather slow rate,

At the same pace as

A snake's darting tongue,

Mesmerizing me ‑‑

Ah, I'm finally safe

At the crosswalk's far end.