O little yellow strips of plastic --

How you made my drive fantastic.

[At least you minimized the pain:

With you, I used the carpool lane.]

The best eight bucks I ever spent

Was for these babies. They were meant

To nudge us into hybrid wheels;

And thousands flocked to take those deals.

It worked too well, and now they must

'As chimney-sweepers, come to dust,'

Expiring with the fiscal year --

That’s why my R.I.P. is here.

I’ll miss the joy as I descry

Your cars backed up while I whiz by.

Now I’m the one who’ll brake my ride

For Volts’ and Leafs’ electric glide.

Those greener tricks will roll and rock

On past the grim, unstickered flock

That numbers me -- and yes, I’m sad,

But thankful for the time I had.

Perhaps for years I’ll scrimp each dime

And buy electric -– just in time

To take again that solo drive

Once they’ve redone the 405.

-- Patt Morrison

ALSO:

A hidden threat to drivers

If L.A. freeways aren't free

In L.A., no more 'Gold Cards'

California's high-speed train wreck

Photo: California "clean air vehicle" stickers are seen on hybrid vehicles on May 6, 2011 in San Rafael, California. Credit: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images