Traffic Lights

By Nicola Koen

Posted on June 1, 2025

Cover Image Title: No Turn on Red

Cover Image by: Serena Dicare

Classification: Photography

Specifications: Resized from 4032 pixels x 3024 pixels

Year: 2024

Location of Creation: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Emerald eyes blink a nod;

Speed along they say, let the sun give chase

Faster, faster; let the sky blur and smear

Metres then miles imprint on the rubber

Passing beneath an orange tree; beware 

the creak in the branch, begging fire to be picked

Like a dragon, feed the rumble, keep it alive

Let the night’s breath flow

Flames lick the canopy above, leaves browning;

No running can prevent the hot rain

No click, pray the black belt holds strong

Before the fence breaks the metal hood.

Description: 

This poem explores the balance between driving safety and the temptation to speed. Each stanza is focused on one of the different colours of the traffic lights.

Stanza 1 - green. It paints the picture of freedom as the driver races along.

Stanza 2- orange. The poet illustrates danger up ahead, by the tree with the branch threatening to fall.

Stanza 3- red. In this last stanza, the poet describes the effects of the choice of speeding and the driver’s regret as ultimately they are putting their life on the line (seen by the unclipped seatbelt).

[ Writing Editor: Anonymous. ]