Melissa Richardson Banks

Yesterday was an incredible day. It was a day like no other -- one in which I smiled so much and was so happy that my facial muscles ached. I played hooky ... yep, and with a "boy" (i.e., definitely a man!). I let him sweep me away from the doldrums and intensities of overworking, speeding me along in his vintage sportscar on winding mountain roads -- far, far away from my dusty urban concrete hideaway up to and back from a snowy summit where blue skies reigned and the icy cold air welcomingly braced my entire body. Yes, that man -- ruggedly, yet boyishly and quirkily handsome with his precisely trimmed hipster crewcut and his lanky frame wrapped in jeans and a t-shirt topped with a tan suede coat ... I was scared -- I wanted to touch his hand, accidentally brush against his leg, but I was afraid that, once it happened, the electricity wouldn't let me break away, so I settled more deeply into the car seat, and stared out the window as the engine roared. I couldn't g

skeleton ruins night sky a man pedals a bicycle down an otherwise lonely street horsepower over the line another rides fast a blur outrunning the night hard into the dawn primal screams howl from chrome exhaust pipes echoing across darkened urban canyons the rider knows that somewhere in this city a lady lies somewhere there is love somewhere but tonight he rides through skeleton ruins

full moon presides over empty streets wet pavement glistens beckoning the rider alone rides into the womb of the city heaven is here somewhere he feels it in the moonlit hours before dawn the vibe flows through him on the wind raindrops cleanse him hard and fast he rides baptized on the boulevard he tries not to think just ride just be just feel the moment for in this quiet town somewhere lies a lady waiting? the rider shall stop someday and stay

step into the urban rhythm ancient brick illuminated by starlight in the neon glow they steal a graffiti kiss electric