Memory Poem

Knocking

Cycling in fifth grade

I pedaled a ride

with the girl scout troop.

The leader's

dimpled daughter,

with the platinum pageboy,

Loyal, bicycled first.

Packed in the middle

I was told

not to go ahead

of her complaining

I went too fast for

her aching knees.

The troop leader took

the rear

though there was nothing

to fear because she was

the only one

to go so slowly.

For two hours

I turned my wheels

to the sounds

of Loyal's silky, taunting,

"You can't' go ahead of me."

"You mustn't go in front."

"Do NOT go beyond me."

Her words a rasp--

the cheese grater

biting into my skin.

Finally,

I'd had enough

of NOTs and CAN'Ts,

wanting to feel

wind through my hair,

I made my dash--

pedaled for freedom

fast as I could

raced to my house,

hid in the closet.

Mother was shopping.

Loyal's mother chased.

She pumped so hard

her pedal pushers

showed the sweat.

Panting,

she knocked on my door.

My older sister answered

said I wasn't home.

Lately I've been working on some memory poems about things that happened when I was a kid.  Can you write a poem about something that happened to you today?  This morning there was a lizard running around in my bedroom.  I couldn't catch him. Every time I'd get close, he would scoot away.  I was trying to be careful because I didn't want him to drop his tail in fright.  I finally just opened the door to the outside and chased him to the doorway and he found his way out.  I'm thinking about that poem.  My friend Sally Buckner told me that Theodore Roethke had things he called thinkies the beginning thoughts for poems.  I think this event is a thinkie.  Have a good time writing.