Beyond Badges and Barbed Wire
 
Baklava
 
River Run
 
Perfect Pen
 
Raven Heart
 
That Wild Thing
 
Tsunami
 
August 4th
 
Urban Spring
 
Yellow Canyons
 
Edge of the World
 
Silver Weaver
 
Grace
 

 
Red Ride 

The warnings are out there:
Don’t do it, don’t get involved,
stay clear of temptation. Best
let growling beasts alone.
Sure we’ll end up two flies
on windshields, mothers,
friends wag fear fingers in our faces.

It rumbles red between legs
surges up our thighs into our hearts--
beating sparrow wings. Our hands
in black leather grip tight, throttle revs
engine and we sail, glide
on blacktop, our wheels spin,
chrome glistens dinnertime
pinks and blues. Jackets billow,
and flap, warm summer wind licks
our necks. Gold fields flank
roving ribbon road. We lean into
curves, shoulders tip to ground.
Our fingers grip and turn, we kick it
in, ride, two blue herons
surfing wind currents,
wings spread wide.



 

 Diane Sherman