street blocked

shoulders stop

sprinting heart

slammed 

wall of

pitiful apologies and

indifferent shrugs

battered sign

pointing

inevitable

orange paint

fate

I hate

bubbling

laughter

beyond

sharp           ie

stained line

never master

line 

invisible

impervious

piercing

line

lump

daggered whispers

sizzling tears

lodged 

in my throat

not enough

sugar

to coat

truth

facing

orange paint

fate

I hate

tick tick tick

bike

antique clock

off rhythm

knocking in my head

time wasted

shadows bright

only light

pedaling through

dense fog

choking back tears

like a frog

murmurs of

“you can’t do this”

haunt me

I want

more than

their taunts

pedaling harder

condensation my

determination

fog fades

clear path ahead

adventure

firm in my head

every twist 

turn

a lesson

not

limit

preparation for

the right time

not the

fastest climb

orange paint

fate

I await