Leong Liew Geok (b. 1947)
SELECTED POEMS
Women Drivers
Our brakes don't squeal
Our cars can't speed
Our egos won't turn
Sharper than we needWe stop for red
We play by rules
We don't bend, or break
Cars with resale valueWe'd rather give way
To our fellow men
Wanting to cut in
Than move up or pretendYet we rattle the nerves
Of motoring louts
Who feel stuck behind us
And cannot move outWhen they finally pass
They throw dirty looks
Confirmation in sight
Of why they shookWhat's wrong with slowing down?
With traffic we're moving
While we mull over
Which way we aren't goingNo broken bones
No possibility
Of traffic accidents
From our gravityMindful of position
We calculate with care
The U-turn queue lengthens
We simply don't dareWe don't want to hurt
We'd rather not cheat
We don't like close shaves
We'll ignore your heatThough we don't swerve or weave
We're a breed much maligned
The scapegoats you denigrate
With clichés unkindWithout sanity like ours
Imagine how roads would be
Demonized by thugs
Unchecked and dashing freeSo gender recognition
By you smug motorists
Our compliment it is
Through your gritted teeth
by Leong Liew Geok
from Women Without Men (2000)
