“Memory #2079,” New Era, Aug. 1996, 26
Memory #2079
Days when air conditioning escaped
our lint-lined pockets, I ride
a dusty Datsun with Dad,
arm wrestle the wind. I lose
when I want to, an arm frozen
in motion, gripping teeth and white
knuckles pushing to a rear-
view mirror. A hand wrapping
my thigh scares me into
letting go; I lose our war
this day, meeting him here
tomorrow, to scream at clouds,
to high-five my barrier,
to play.