Bicycle Man Poem by Francis Santaquilani

He's always in front

Of me on his bicycle in traffic.

When we're bumper to bicycle wheel

I get a really good look at his back.

He pulls his wool cap

Down over his thick, long dreadlocks.

He looks like a man with an octopus

On his shoulders trying to swallow his

Head. Tentacles flying

Around, groping for more of his body to grab,

Bulbous head bouncing.


He always turns

A corner before I can get a good look

At his face. I need to see the face

Of a man who wears his hair like that.

I need to see where he works and

What he does, where he lives, who

He loves and who loves him.