Punchline

Punchline 
 
a child alone  
on a BMX sits 
stutters and lisps 
above a pier, by a park  
on the coast  
south east of nowhere 
 
two boys come  
bikes with stunt nuts  
mag wheels 
and daddy's money 
 
names known, Green and Dove 
 
let's race, they challenge  
let's race, I accept  
see who the loser is 
 
push the pedals  
every ounce to prove yourself  
sweat drips  
crowds roar, in you head 
in your head 

stutter and lisp crosses the finish line first 
and waits. 
joyous, jubilant, triumphant. 
and waits 
and waits 
 
Green and Dove don't show 
they're laughing on their bikes riding home 
that  I won a race against no one  
how funny  
how funny 
 
how ashamed I am 
 
dry eyed 
shame crowned 
alone i ride 

Stutter & liSp – A Reckoning in Poetry & Paint is out today.