riding my bike through these hot streets tonight

head light’s out but my rear light’s fine

nowhere to go, no one texting this phone

i’m most definitely not

some show you would know

what i like most are the smells in my nose

starting and stopping, going and mixing

next to the next, onward keep breathing

the cooking foods, the cleaning laundries

smell of river, of lakes, the sewers

freeway diesel smoke, lawn mower two strokes

railroad ties glistening

locomotive, rumbling distant

front lawns, back yards, the barbecuing

music, lawn chairs, laughing

down along river, up over bridges

beginning then ending, stronger then fading

breathing deeply, breathing peaceful

finally feeling them as i roll south and homeward

the cool breezes blowing

my windows open