The bus driver watched me emerge from the belly of his beast with my 2000’s era Trek, and two fully loaded bike panniers. I stood up straight and peered at the road ahead of me.

Descending from the heavens

like born-again bats,

we held tight to what we knew best

and let the rest of the world fly by.

We’ve been tracing your life as the ivy grows

Skipping stones with the river’s flow

Each day so precious, we try to stay present

Laying you down in the evening glow