I've driven this route for years The bump

I've driven this route for years. The bump

is just the bump. Part of the road.

Yesterday I hit it too fast.

The car jerked up and my coffee

spilled across the cup holder, seeped

down into the slots where it pools

and gets sticky, gets worse.

I was sitting at the light when I realized

I'd done it on purpose. Not an accident.

I'd hit it hard, testing something,

pushing to see where the suspension

would finally give.

The light turned. I didn't move.

A horn. Someone behind me.

I pressed the gas and felt

the whole frame settle back down

into itself, into the shape it was supposed

to keep.