of wings

giro donne 2022 in poetry

Illustration by Brian Campbell

Thirst can be hopeful. But it can also be wild.
On the first day, the beach seems so small

from the helicopter shots. Waves out of the blue
Tyrrhenian pulse against the shoreline, signs

of a hot wind buffeting the riders as they dash
alone toward the line with nothing but the tick

of the clock in the pits of their stomachs. Full …