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.
at Legoland

made of oversized lego

but I was free
later
there would be
the mandatory hill start
on a black iced street


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

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

the car that can corner on a dime


with the wide wheel base



even if the side pipes
burned your calves

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

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