Living

a thin layer of ice covers pavement
on highway as
white-knuckled
I know that a sudden skid or turn
will send van hurtling in wild swerve
towards
snowy ditch

remembering Portage and patch of black ice
feet away from signpost impact

so we travel on the knife edge
of potential
and disaster
cautious but not
immobilized

SUVs and trucks with better traction
and more confident or reckless drivers
pass
sometimes sending a spray of snow
blinding with white brilliance
as we plod/plow along

veering into left-hand lane
cutting through thicker snow and drifts
I pass slow ultra-cautious drivers
adrenaline coursing through tensed muscles

through darkness
finish final stretch
arrive at the driveway
and pull in safely