"do you live here?"
said a woman labeled white
and bred to prejudge the spectrum.

a woman I had greeted thrice
previously,
and offered a ride
on McGarrity.

her dog
of mixed pedigree
glanced at me,
eyes glossed with shame
as if he sensed my pain.

he tugged on the leash,
eager to be rid
of the tension,
or her....

i couldn't tell.

so I swallowed my nuclear option
and biked on.

~ P
#BikingNearLake_Dow
2/10/2017