the hill

11 Feb, 2025

the hardcore downhill cyclist self congratulates
 while others walk up
 carrying things 
and others and
baggage and lovers,
their progress frustrated
 by hunger and tiredom and traffic and
 dogs

 dogs those small dogs, dogs
 small and snappy
 small and snappy and yappy they yap you
 "You don’t belong here"
and nip they the legs those
 just trying to walk and do
cause a near runner jump 
one whole full yard in
one thump
of the chest

 while the heavens head
 down and whisper 
the cyclist that:
 "cars will us ruin 
  will us all 
  us true folk" 
  "(and us dogs)"
 though their message is lost
to him
past 
to the wind
and sight
of the hill

other things said