Louie, Three-Wheeling (Poem)

Louie, Three-Wheeling

You ride three
wheels we remember
needing, too.
One to take
us forward, a second not
to fall far behind

the third less
a spare than ballast
to manage,
keep even,
show off with pride. You, wanting
words, throw us a smile.

© 2011 Maureen E. Doallas
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I wrote this poem* after watching on the Being blog this 8:13-minute documentary about Louie Evans, a Bostonian who rides a three-wheeler (less generously called a tricycle) all about the city streets for the sheer love of it. Nobody, it seems, knows Louie better than the guys at Back Bay Bicycles who keep Louie's bike repaired. I found this short film to be deeply touching. 

I offer this poem for the Challenge to Write Poetry with Books & Culture, which appears at the end of this article by Marcus Goodyear, "Writing Poems in Your Own Backyard". Marcus, author of the poetry collection Barbies at Communion, is senior editor at The High Calling and Christianity Today's Faith in the Workplace.

Anyone may participate in this challenge to write in community. Entries must be posted on the Books & Culture FaceBook wall by July 1. Marcus gives his word that he'll read every entry, leave a comment if possible, and, together with colleague John Wilson, will select one or more poems to feature in next month's column. A selection may appear also in Every Day Poems.

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* Both stanzas of this poem are written in Shadorma form, which requires six lines following a 3-5-3-3-7-5 syllabic pattern.

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