I can see my mother
Pumping her legs
A daily exercise
Thin pallet on the linoleum
Mosquitos on the other side
Of the screen door
She raises and lowers her legs
On a journey to better health?
I can see her,
See mothers across America
Their legs vigorously riding
Bicycles in air
Bikes with thick tires—
Sporting wire baskets
And heavy brakes
Bicycles that said, if you pump
Hard enough, fast enough
I will take you where you need to go.
Gina Lollabridgida