LEARNING TO RIDE

I wanted to ride

like the other kids

but our only bike

was my father’s two wheeler

a monstrous size

to my nine year old eyes

So in his usual style

he improvised

Taught me to put my leg

under the cross bar

Hold the bike to the side

in order to ride

He took me and the bike

up the end of the road

to a slight little knoll

gave it a shove

and just let us go

It took a couple of tries

But I soon got the knack

and was peddling my bike

like some acrobat

over the hills

up one and down

I was soon riding his bike

all around town

Gabrielle Rilleau