The Visit

I weighed one hip down

With pi-pas,

Perched on my red bicycle

Chin down, eyes up.

I put one foot down on the right pedal,

Kicked another foot back on the left,

And pushed,

Sure and blurring

Up the Walden Street hill.

I bopped up and down

And I was soaring, soaring,

I strained out my chest

And I was flying, flying,

Going up the bumps and holes

With no pause,

Zinging down that court

Like I was stone shot from a sling,

Coming creaking to a rest

Under mossy green eaves.

Heart fluttering,

I lurked like a bird

In my father’s driveway.