R.P. Infantino | Poetry

R.P. Infantino is a published writer of essays, poetry, short stories, novellas, songs, and more.

Home Published Writings Interview Essays Poetry Short Stories Contact

•The Beautiful Tree •Every Soldiers Lament • Yard Sale •What Comes Next?
•To The Doubters •The Man I Long To Be •The Fall of Daedalus •Drew

Drew
by R.P. Infantino

I was witness to a lone youth’s first attempts on a bicycle.

With helmet in place, elbow and knee pads secured,
he rode not an inch before striking the ground.
He readied the two-wheeler, attempted once more,
and the earth rose up hitting him hard.
He repositioned himself, tried again, crashed again.
Another attempt plummeted him downward.
Each and every try, same injurious results.

Watching this fragile youth damage himself repeatedly
caused my heart to break.
I felt compelled to rush to his aid.
But despite his hardships, the boy continued on without despair.
He never quit, never got angry, never became frustrated.
He suffered his trials with dignity, holding firm his goal to one day ride free.

This courageous youngster, more determined than most adults,
added one second more of riding time with each crash.
To his innocent mind, the bruises were incidental to the process of learning.

By day’s end, he rode the entire street without a mishap.

This scrawny inspiration of a boy discovered the ancient philosopher’s creed:

Fail over and over. Attempt again and again.

Ever improve.

R.P. Infantino The Author as Young Rider

The Author as Young Rider