Ships and cars are most averse
To sudden switches to reverse
When they are going “full ahead”:
A law of nature, I’d have said.
In fact, it simply isn’t true
As I will now explain to you.
Right in my village, on a curve,
Quite suddenly I had to swerve
Because a dog in utmost haste
From out a driveway was being chased.
The chasing dog, as is the way,
Was focused only on his prey
Which brought him closer, and by far,
Before he saw my moving car.
Half pulled the muscles in my calf,
I braked so hard, but had to laugh;
The mutt’s expression changed so fast
Triumphant, puzzled, then aghast.
So while my brake foot hit the floor
A fourfold scrape of canine claw
Made clear he’d thrown his anchors out
And in an instant turned about.
Beneath the turn-tossed mass of fur
Its little paws were just a blur
Then, faster than a car or ship,
It sped up as it found a grip
And shot off back towards its drive;
A little wiser – but alive.
