Fast cars, Pt 4

I got my driver's licence
at Legoland

driving a bumper car
made of oversized lego

it was only good for a week
but I was free

later
there would be
the mandatory hill start
on a black iced street

and the parallel park

where you weren't necessarily
allowed to use
the what are bumpers for excuse
and driving downtown
with one ways
and bus lanes
and all manner of hell
and I was free that time too

but driver's ed
left its mark
you see my instructor used to drive
one of those London double deckers
with a self-changing gear box
made by the Birmingham Small Arms Company
BSA for short
which my instructor told me was short
for Bloody Sore Ass
he told me of his proficiency
in shifting gears
knowing by the sound of the engine
when to step it up
and when I practised
racing shifts
accidentally
without the cluth
in a Toyota Hilux

stressing the engine's capacity
or power
or torque
I wasn't sure it was wise
to shift
without engaging the clutch
stalling out at high speed
was a thrill
but the grinding took its toll
and away went freedom
and with it the Hilux

later I tried a Corvette Stingray

with the rag top
the car that can corner on a dime

and give you a nickel back

something to do
with the wide wheel base

like a bow legged cowboy

or a bandy legged test jet pilot

but you didn't worry
even if the side pipes
burned your calves

and luckily for me
being free didn't wind me
into a ditch
nobody gets licensed for that
or for legos either

as a matter of fact.