The Politest Pile-Ups

“selective focus photography of bicycle” by Martin Castro on Unsplash

Old ladies on bikes collide
in the Nagoya intersection like the
cold light from long dead
stars.

Contusions and road rash aside
they reject the offer of
a helping hand from the
green eyed gaijin.

Dignity recovered they both
bow low before mounting their
bikes and riding away.

Slightly outraged, I walk on
to the subway shaking my head.
But then find myself glad
the incident didn’t become the
gunfight it might have
in my home country.

The Politest Pile-Ups was originally published in P.S. I Love You on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.