Lady in a Hurry

The abrupt halt at the stop sign out-ed her tardiness.
She speedily pulled in behind me as our two cars became one.

The rearview mirror revealed things closer than they are:
a steering-wheel-thumping sermon against the evils of slow.

A passing lane ahead was fodder for her petition,
but God or fate or just heavy other-directioned traffic said no.

The rearview mirror revealed things as they should not be:
a small child in the passenger seat, mannequin still.

Me and my shadow finally reached the vast sea of four lanes.
She huffed and puffed and wolf-ed past me, free at last, free at last.

The front windshield revealed things farther than they should be:
lady in a hurry, grasping for the hem of the day.