The Near-Accident 7.31.2008 Poem by Margaret Alice

Margaret Alice drove into a pole this morning,
didn’t realize the car was badly injured, then
as she tried to drive home, felt the full force
of the near-accident: The wheel alignment was
out, the right front wheel completely skew, the
car wouldn’t go, the car park attendant directed
to the wheel alignment garage where Manuel -
Manuel Lennon – checked the car –

It is busted madame, you have to drive it to another
garage, Margaret Alice hysterical – the kids are at
school, who will take care of them? – I cannot drive,
the car’s wheels are all skew, said Schalk Jordaan –
we’ll drive the car to the garage, Manuel in your
car, we’ll take you there; I called Caroline, she
went to fetch Nici and Tiaan, Celeste at the garage –
this will cost you madame; I smiled, yes it will,

But my kids are safe; here is Barbara and Lieb,
they’ll take me home; took the number and
details of Manuel and Schalk who drove my
broken car all the way to the garage, I was too
shaken and scared to drive my little lame duck;
they took care of me and my car, made sure I
had a lift before they left – how can I thank them?
They’ll never know how much they meant

To the lady with the broken car – but in this poem
I’ll let them know how much their help meant!