A ONE WAY TRIP poem

A One Way Trip

Bicycle wheels turn the turn
red steel frame surrounding,
spokes creaking under a heavy strain
dirty pants attached to the ankles,
he’s hot and sweaty
it’s been a long day--

heading past the feed mill
past the machinery noise,
heading into the stink
of Truro’s Rendering Plant.

Hurry home
wife and kids, cat waiting
hungry
the paycheque, a slim piece
of paper in his pocket—

they’re waiting.

© 1993 Richard L. Provencher

first published Summer 1993
The Amethyst Review Vol. 1 No. 2
Truro, Nova Scotia
ISSN 1192-2478