The Boy and The Bike

While parking downtown
a boy passing with his family

asked me to rev my engine
saying only "vroooom!"
and making the universal throttle sign

with open fist and turning wrist

I responded "you want to do it?"

popping the bike in neutral

and returning the gesture, instructional

tentative he approached

spurred on by his dad and uncle

then snake-quick he reached out

and thrust the throttle down

making the bike roar and echo

off the indifferent stone of the Art Institute

ecstatic but possibly in shock

he backed cautiously away

and his brother, older, not to be out done

marched up and did the same

planting the seed perhaps

of future riders, motorcyclists to come