Riding my bike down the street at midnight

Pedaling slowly home past hushed houses,
I’m thinking about every little thing I have to do
Before the sun rises and begins another cycle
Of making lists and not checking them off
I turn on to my street and ignore the traffic lights
And as I pass I feel their green light pool on my back
As if they didn’t care that I defied them anyway
I finally look up from my unsteady handlebars
And

I have the whole world to myself.

The dark air is thick around me,
Pressing heat like an old church in June
I pedal faster
And let my dress fly above my thighs,
Grin at the trees and at what they’re missing
The wind presses hands to my ears and dries my mouth
As I breathe deep this solitary moment

But a car turns,
Headlights illuminating my lowered head
As I turn towards my driveway,
Lock up my squeaky bike
And give the night back to itself.