Tires that grip in the wet were never a reliable
source of safety, no matter what the mechanics
promised me. Top of the line, sure,
but would I make it home?
They never answered straight.

And one night, while the rain came tumbling down
ceaselessly, I drove with my nose
pressed to my steering wheel
(the windshield fogged up
and the streaks splattered against my window
in that eerie Twilight Zone paradox).
The tires they promised would glide with ease
against the blacktop
locked in place and veered off the road
and into the creek I fell,
car and all,
headlights blinking
on
off.