The smile is broad, proud
Victorious.
The training wheels had been removed
Earlier that day by his father, who said,
“It’s time.”

Taking an uncertain breath. . .
Swallowing “What if’s . . .”
He rolls forward,
w o b b l i n g . . . .
Uncertain, like a colt on its first legs.

“Don’t worry if you fall;
Just dust yourself off and get on again.”

He does. . .

And he does. . .


And he does.

And now,
He’s tamed the two-wheeled-beast---
. . .almost.

Grinning wildly,
He mugs for his photographing mother
Seconds before pedaling
Into the

Silver


Garbage



Cans.





---, 1989