Bumper to Bumper

I'd like to think it was me with the bright idea, but it wasn't--

it was the bumper cars

they had the bright idea

the thought process of a long distance runner

I'd like to believe it was me with the plan, but it wasn't--

it was always the person behind me

casting a long shadow of a doubt

like Teresa Wright

I'd like to suppose that I had perfect vision

and that I lived with no regret

and that my life would work out the way it should

without hindsight and rearview mirrors getting the best of me

I'd like to have faith in a sixth sense

and a seventh

that it had nothing to do with the unfortunate chain of events conspiring around me

but like most bright ideas

these were dimly lit

by a dim wit