The White Bicycle

When everything is falling apart
my friend, when you’re stuck
in the horse latitudes,
mired in a dark
night of the soul,
when you’re no longer sleek
sexy and smooth,

find a white bicycle–
climb on that
fat-tired slow beast,
pedal and huff and
laugh like you once did,
whistle sing shout
and cuss use words
your mama told you never to,

push that bike up a mountain
and when you get to the top,
when you’re near to over the hill,
when night is falling fast,
jump on whoop and holler,

ride that old bicycle down,
no brakes allowed,
fireflies and stars
your only light
and when you wipe out,
(and yes, honey, you will)
darkness like a big pillowy woman
will come along and wrap you up–
whisper everything’s gonna be allright…

No worries, baby,
she’ll carry all
your broken pieces home.

Bio: When not writing, Sharon Auberle may be found hanging pictures and poems at her website – Mimi’s Golightly Café. Her poetry and photography have appeared in numerous publications and anthologies, both print and online, and she is thrilled to have been nominated for a Pushcart Prize.