Spoke Shadows

I walked past the front gate onto the sidewalk, where a silver bicycle leaned quietly against the curb. The low morning sun caught its front wheel, casting a sharp fan of dark spoke shadows across the pale asphalt. I stopped, watching the neat geometric lines spread outward from the center. Moving with deliberate steps, I rolled my red floral sphere directly into the heart of the circular shadow. The glossy curve settled squarely over the dark silhouette of the axle. Standing beside the large tire, I tapped one thin metal spoke with my fingertip, listening to its clear, ringing note fade into the quiet air.