a broken reflection

A broken reflection dims

the resemblance of what was

and is, on the badly lit arterial

where his schwinn grins

upon oncoming traffic.

The warning of a moving object

in a steady uphill, peddling battle

only to coast freely

down the welcomed descent.

Saddle bags tolerate the weight

of laptop, files, and manuscripts

that will be displayed studiously

on a vacant library, laborsome table.

Pages of broken reflection

of past published notation

will be read rapidly as assigned

but not easily comprehended;

bearing in mind the impending examination

of concepts and hoards of information

inevitably scheduled and forthcoming

as implied on the dreaded syllabi.

A glimpse of a broken reflection

of self in a window nearby

interrupts all study and reason

of a man who’s barely getting by.

Fatigued and in the moment

He fails to recognize the face

wondering how he happened

into this quiet place

that resembles nothing

of all his yesterdays.

His gaze is broken up;

a broadcast -  “the library’s closing,”

and he is all too aware

tomorrow will be a mere

broken reflection of the same

new ordinary.

It’s a dark, cold ride home

with hands firmly gripped;

a broken reflection dims

the resemblance of what was

and is, on the badly lit arterial

where his schwinn still grins

upon oncoming traffic.

The warning of a moving object

in a steady uphill, peddling frenzy

only to coast freely

down the welcomed descent

toward a space he calls

home.

~2011 Vaughn Wood