How to Wheel

By Karl Knights

The zoo is tough terrain; hilly.

I wheel as fast as I can —

then Mum shouts ‘Keep up!’

I stop. ‘Hand me my crutches.’

I shakily get up; tear off my splints’

velcro straps, and put them on her.

I sit her in the chair. ‘You have a go.’

At first, she spins in circles.

‘No,’ I say. ‘Use both arms in unison.’

She still veers away, zigzagging, sweating now.

People start to stare. She blushes,

keeps her head down. After ten minutes

she’s heaving, shirt drenched.

I swing over to her.

Copyright Credit: Karl Knights, "How to Wheel" from Kin. Copyright © 2022 by Karl Knights. Reprinted by permission of The Poetry Business.

Source: Kin (The Poetry Business, 2022)