Cary Briel

I nudge time’s pointer
and I’m there.
The moment becomes synchronized to this–
and I see it.

As fast as my legs will take me
I pedal
toward home,
a new 2-cycle, horizontal shaft engine in right arm’s grasp.

Did you know a centrifugal clutch is like gold?
At least it is to those of us kids who know what to do with it,
and I have one.
But will it fit?

It’ll be the difference between flying down the alleyways
so fast–
to the envy of all the neighborhood kids–
or sitting amidst my tools,

staring, in the damp of our family basement,
desperately
trying
to make it all work.