CRUISER BIKE

I bought a cruiser bike

instead of a mountain bike

I’m a sextagenarian

not a 30-something

so every morning I pedal

to the corner across from the Ritz-Carlton and the Montage

next to the high-rent Pandemonde Café

and count the Ferraris roaring by.

I never had a Ferrari

but I did buy a ’96 Mustang once

and souped it up with a supercharger

which was around the time

my doctor took me off testosterone

because my prostate specific antigen

was way too high

You have an inoperable prostate malignancy, he said

after the biopsy

You can’t take hormone replacement anymore

It will **** you

And as I lean on my bike

depressed about missing the rush

of another boost of synthetic male hormone

I enjoy watching the Europen speedsters streak by

so proud of themselves

in cars that cost more

than my house.

I used to wish I was them

used to feel like them

when I was younger and charging hard

but now I just utter prayers

for each Lamborghini that goes by

and I say

I hope your car is faster than cancer.

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