Bliss on a Bicycle

JESSICA NENO CLOUD

March 24, 2020

There’s a road near my house

With a U-shaped elevation

And you can coast up and down 

On two wheels at high speed

We circle around the church lot

And salute from 10 feet away 

The hospital workers

Taking a break with a walk

The garish red trumpet lilies 

Are at the top of the hill

And the breeze is blowing 

Wisteria petals in my face

Then I start coasting down

My feet off the pedals 

All limbs outstretched 

Balancing in this bliss

The wind whips in my ears 

And gets so loud

I can’t even hear

The music in my pocket

I replace my feet 

And raise one hand carefully

Relishing the air zooming

Past my skin

I turn around and do it again

Like a child again and again

So happy to be here, outside

And alive and healthy

JESSICA NENO CLOUD is a poet, mama of two wild things, and higher education fundraiser who lives in Hattiesburg, MS. She earned a Master of Arts degree in English literature from the University of Southern Mississippi. You can read more of her work on her Instagram page @jessicacloudpoetry.