A quiet dare to every fear that said I shouldn't chase this thrill,
each shaky push a promise that I'd bend the board to my own skill.
The concrete hummed beneath me like it knew I'd come to rise,
and every wobble taught me how to trust the fire behind my eyes.
The park became my canvas, every ramp a line to trace my name,
each rail a chance to rewrite chapters where I once felt small or tame.
Falls turned into teachers, bruises into proof I showed up strong,
and every scrape reminded me I've had resilience all along.
I learned to carve with courage, letting motion pull me through,
discovering that age can't cage the part of me that still feels new.
There's art in every risk I take, in every trick I dare to start,
because there's always more to learn when you ride with an open heart.
I send my wheels on uneven ground,
fear humming louder than the street,
but courage sparks when I push off,
a girl who won't accept defeat.
I land the trick I thought I'd miss,
not built for crowns, I’m built for this.
my body is an arrow
penetrating the air
extension of my board
Sister Lucille enjoys skateboard riding
Weather and her arthritis providing
Lucille has skinned-up knees
From banging into trees
She has never mastered her colliding.
Written July 14, 2022
An uncommonly spry basset hound
was annoyed when his ears swept the ground
But his spirits soared
when he got a skateboard
Now he’d Doggie Olympics bound
6/8/22
Pop, grind, slide,
Baggy pants, oversized shirt,
Who washed?
Here comes a novice with wood.
We ignore him until he wanders away.
My pal Doug is practicing a 186 change
Flipping his board over and over, landing on it.
He’s a beginner too, but for some reason it does not bother me.
Maybe because we are friends.
I wander up and give him a couple of Chinese Nollies
And a Biebelheimer
I am such a showoff on my board!
Cannot help it.
Spent a year or two practicing all these moves.
My cousin is practicing the stairs.
Ends up with a loud slam.
We clap for him.
Sounded like he broke a couple of teeth.
He gets up, pleased, takes a bow.
Hey! Watch me do this Fakie 180, the new kid yells.
We ignore him. He’s not one of us.
He does a hippie jump and lands on his nose.
I wander over to check on him.
Maybe I was too harsh.
a few years ago
i was walking from my car
to my apartment.
around the corner, i heard a skateboard
and sure enough, skateboy mcf*ckenstein
comes plowing around the corner.
the kid hit a rock or something and
beefed all over the sidewalk.
i approached him, and stated:
"if you vote for george w. bush,
he will molest your children."
now, almost thirty years later,
i am crouched beneath this mildew
enshrined bungalow,
curdling my teaspoons of
tequila.
if only skateboy mcf*ckenstein
had listened.
i don't think he was even old enough to vote.
such is the cruelty of fate.
Filling the breeze going through your hair
Hitting the ramps and getting air
Grinding the rails and riding around
Listen to your wheels what a wonderful sound
Doing heelflips,kickflips and pop shuvits too
I could never find anything else to do
Sidewalks and skate parks;
Old swimming pools drained.
Kickflips and split lips;
young ankles sprained.
Aerials and Varials
and being called a punk.
Tail taps and grip tape;
and tricks that take *****.
Exercise that is ramped up;
balance in a curve.
Backflips and Bearings
now don't loose your nerve!
Ollies and wallplants
it's no passing fad.
acid drops and nosestalls
Not just boys being bad!
Ramps under carports
and falling and pain.
Daring and doing tricks
again and again
Inclines; expression
and Five Oh grinds
Nollies and ledges
and friendship that Binds.
Go away Mr. Policemen: Just let us be.
Skateboarding is not a crime!
So let us Skate free!
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