A London Summer On Wheels With Kids Kick Scooting Poem by Ifi Amadiume

A London Summer On Wheels With Kids Kick Scooting
Grannies are working hard these truly
Hazy rolly-polly dizzy days,
What with toddlers tugging at their legs
For balance,
Some scarcely walking try riding tricycles,
Others are doing the kick scooting,
Practicing out their balancing skills.
These three-wheeler, two-wheeler
With rounded tubal plastics, well
Placed for the safety of our dearly
Loved ones,
Something very much in vogue
It would seem, everywhere now
To be seen in our London Summer.

A kick here, a ride along there
On a board with two front wheels
For a scooter
On a board with two back wheels
For a tricycle,
With a bicycle helmet in hand,
No matter the age.
See how they ride on sparkling wheels,
Shined up to deceive, to please.
Some even pause distracted by
A standing inviting light pole,
In new smoothness and not so tall
That it looked out of reach,
Not frighteningly live wired either.
The children respond with clasping hands
Around a rounded smoothness that calls
Close to gladdened hearts,
Hands and legs on poles,
Rolling round and round on standing poles,
In that moment scooting and tricycles forgotten,
They roll round and round, circling
On poles in ecstatic joy!
Gran stands by just smiling,
Time to pause, rest for a while
Before they jump back on to
Kicking, the hip hopping
Along with one foot, trying to
Strengthen their thighs, I am told.

Some do the high speed flying
On single wheels.
Now truly that is how to scooter,
Letting it roll you along in a flash,
No holding on to slowing Gran's hand,
No tugging, no clutching Gran's legs,
Just riding along, rolling along,
While Granny gets some rest.

(Ifi Amadiume, London, August 12,2019)