Susan Bangs Munro

The first ten minutes are the hardest.

Then muscle memory kicks in,

the knees turn, the wheels follow,

and the early morning light is glorious.

My shadow moves easily,

despite the wind off the lake.

It reminds me that my body looks

pretty damn good for an old woman.

Einstein thought while riding his bicycle.

His best ideas, he said. I make lists

and write emails, untangle relationships,

find brilliant solutions that I forget before I get home,

distracted by the internal argument between

calories and croissants.