A Bicycle in a Circle

Her big human heart rode a bicycle in a circle.
With it, it traced a few words, songs and pictures
that came to mind. And then it slammed on the brakes.
It had forgotten to look ahead in the circle.

Out of love or out of curiosity?
She didn’t know and didn’t ask her heart.

Along the tracks left by the wheels of her bicycle
an ugly dog was wagging its tail.
It stuck its tongue out at her, from the heat and to remind her
that she’d forgotten to walk it round the circle.

And anyone could think whatever they liked
about what lies along the line of the circle.
Or about something else.

She got off to drink a glass of apple juice
with a fragile mime actress who stepped out of someone else’s memory
of an unfulfilled love in a time of rain and youth.
The two of them were womanly unpleasant to each other, and under one umbrella.

And since the circle had been broken,
the words, the songs and the pictures
began to pester the dog,
which was chasing its own tail.