| Once I leave the house on Two wheels Downhill I am becoming a different person Several stones lighter, Suddenly younger, one or two decades At least Seeing people Cycling past coffee shops Slowly opening for take awayPassing people on the pavement Keeping their 2m distance by walking Into the middle of the road Irish pavements were not made for Pandemics Until finally I reach the sea Surprised by people smiling at me In line at the Coco Café for my Until time runs out and Getting a little bit heavier |
| Jessica Pape moved from Germany to Galway in 2009, and never managed to leave. She was longlisted for the Over the Edge New Writer of the Year Competition in 2019 and shortlisted for the CUIRT Spoken Word Platform 2018. She has been published in Skylight 47, Vox Galvia and Pendemic. She writes poems and short stories. |
Lovely poem! I am about to buy a bike…. This was fun to read, lots of uphills where I am though!