One less car

instead of facing backwards

gazing at the upholstery of the backseat

instead... the world,

the world whizzing by with all its colors,

the red stop sign and the green leaves stirring

in the wind, the yellow scarf wrapped around

the woman's neck, the one with red hair.

the sounds!

the voices!

the whirr of tires on pavement

I hear my mother singing

I see my mother waving at passersby

we are all smiling

and there is one less car on the road.