Learning to Ride
—Sam Pierstorff
As a father, you never
want to push your daughter away,
but sometimes you have to
like when she’s six years old
and trying to ride a bike
without training wheels
for the first time,
and you’re running
as fast as you can
behind her, one hand
clenched to the seat
unable to let go
as her front wheel wobbles.
“Keep it straight,” you yell,
but she already knows.
Her shoulders tighten,
fists redden around the handlebars,
her eyes focused on the road ahead
unfolding beneath her tires,
one pedal-turn at a time.
You need to let go soon,
you tell yourself
as you loosen your grip,
feel the bike float away
from your fingertips
as she rides alone—
suddenly aware
she is on her own,
and that you
will always be
behind her.
Sam Pierstorff
Editor-in-Chief, Quercus Review Press
Professor of English
Modesto Jr. College
435 College Ave.
Modesto CA, 95350
www.quercusreviewpress.com
