FORWARDS! Poem by Gerry van der Linden

I choose
my fearsome face

while
riding my bike
through narrow strips of streets
where freight stands stacked
the docker takes his time

the automobile strains its wheel
against the current called time

I show
the back of my legs
the tip of my coat
to errant americans
day-trippers one-weekers death-seekers
citizens from without canalside dwellers

I trounce
the last ounce from my wheel
take aim
take aim
forwards!