REAR VIEW MIRRORS

                               —for Katelin Stuart

It seems I've gotten a jumpstart on Friday the 13th.

Backing out of the old narrow garage, 

built in the days of carriages and Model Ts,

requires a subtle skill set in order to park

without tearing the side mirrors off the car.

Something I've managed to do for 13 years.

But a freak wind gust slammed a carriage door 

into my left side rear view mirror,
breaking it clean off off at the door frame. 

No hope of properly fixing the plastic housing

so I jimmied it with duct tape and kite string.

Then, while driving back into the garage, 

apparently I didn't get the first lesson of the day.

Another stealthy gust, & the other carriage door 

thunderously smacked the passenger mirror off. 

So, I can't see what's behind me—literally.

Now I'm afraid of what will happen if I look up

through the inside rear view mirror. 

Perhaps the roof will fall on me.

A friend reminds me that at least
I still have a rear view mirror.
For a while, the car thieves had it.

I should consider myself lucky.

At least neither mirror broke.