Traffic Offence Copyright © Kaaren Whitney 2011

She only meant to borrow my husband,
needed someone to vouch for her in court
as a good honourable woman
who required the use of her car
to visit parents, to run kids to school.

The twelve points on her license
accumulated over the past three years
were all calls of duty, looking after
the sick, collecting teenagers from clubs,
getting home to cook a meal for them.

Little did I know that the big rush
came about from time spent
in my husband's workshop
doing more than planing fine oak, more than
nailing two pieces of wood together.

I think the judge on the bench that day,
a wise man, clearly saw behind the scenes.
Her license suspended for one year,
he gave this advice: 'Have your children
walk to school. Be there when they return.'