January bike ride

The toes are having none of it.
They’ve shuttered their business,
gone on holiday in warmer climes.

The throat complains bitterly,
sends up waves of viscous sputum
in protest—and as proxy for the lungs.

The legs? well, they just do what they can
pump away at a steady plodding rate,
happy to be protected by leggings, anyway.

The heart gives all it can—
never a moment’s hesitation,
full bore, pedal to the metal.

The rest of the gang
would do well to take a page
from heart’s playbook.