Unknown Man on a unicycle

New York sidewalks are tricky,
even on two feet,
so imagine cruising through traffic
on a single wheel,
balancing with your hand,
slightly curved,
to follow the parabola
of the earth's orbit
as we hurtle through space,
the universe expanding
with dark energy that won't dissipate
but gathers strength,
accelerating
as stars speed in light years
and planets collide
blast into particles we cannot calculate
speeding off to form
new milky ways.

Yes, balancing on a unicycle
in New York at rush hour
hand curved slightly to balance the
earth's motion
is no easy trick
to please a circus crowd.

April 11, 2001