There are days one seeks the shadows
and welcomes the dusk

The light faded before I knew
I ride incognito and none can see
how mysteriously comforting is the blurring

The combination of pavement-text and crack
weaving in and out of lines like memories
sounds of steed, so tested and strong
they let me run

I let my mind think to and from the road
I am bike
and I welcome my thoughts
all whipped out by the wind

Alone in the near-dark
cars almost see me
I turn onto sidewalk
there are so many options
rather than simply crashing

Slip around this and over that
find a way and cut through
take anIowa alley—it’s your choice
tonight, no one can see,
they don’t know

I get my gallon of Nebraska milk
smiling through splinters
she doesn’t see me either
or faint salt on my cheeks dried
formed large and blinked tumbling from heart to cheek-
hot-dropped right out of that
clear-blue-waters sky

I greedily gulp my glass against cramps
Who could’ve known such sunshine
would move to rain to beyond dusk?

Hey, you know, its Minnesota
wait a bit

It’s gonna change

rjs  8-27-09