Right Turn on Red

This is based on a real incident, except I was making a left turn, and it was not quite so close a call.


     Right Turn on Red

The old Chinese man crosses against
the light, carrying a cane he does not
seem to need, his stride so strong in
its T’ai Chi slowness, his Mandarin visage so
serene beneath a blue baseball cap.

I do not glimpse him in the dim morning
light till I’m halfway around the corner,
and it’s too late to brake. His lack of speed
is our salvation as our paths do not quite
cross. I see him reach the curb, unfazed
in my rearview mirror and realize
although we were both in the wrong,
he had the right of way.