I've been writing Poetry on my BikeBlog, for years, and even posted one of them here earlier this year:
Rock and Roll Icon Digs Parody by Yours Truly!
Since most readers of this Blog might not ever check out the other I want to share my Cycling Poetry and Songs, here, as well. ;-D
It is my hope that not only will my efforts inspire the writer in you, but inspire you to try Bicycling as well.
Comments, and links, are always welcome!
So, um, let's get this show on the road! ;-D
May 2004...
Consider the HAIKU:
3 lines consisting of 5, 7, and 5 syllables each.
What does this have to do with Bicycling, you ask?
Quite a lot, actually.
I am Bicycle.
You ride me all over town.
Must stop, please. Tiring.
Over hill, and dale,
Getting so lost without fail.
I need a damn map!
Then there is the TANKA:A Haiku with 2 more lines of 7 syllables each.
Pedaling on streets
full with traffic, and drivers,
not always seeing
you on their right, on your steed.
Make no sudden move, or die.
One, bike, two, bikes, three
bikes, more! Six bikes, seven bikes,
my garage can not
hold more! What a huge amount!
Time for an Ebay account!
A writer can find poetry in absolutely anything if he, or she, puts their mind to it.When it comes to these 2 forms one learns to trust Webster's whenever in doubt. ;-D
What got my creative writing juices flowing tonite was the Bicycle Haiku page of the blog Bicycle-Eye.
This page has 30 creative contributions solicited by the blogger of his readers, and they make for some very entertaining reading.
November 2005...
THE KEY
I have a key that I miss;
One held most dear.
Where it was lost who knows,
so I'll have a glass of beer.I have a key that I miss;
And when I walk down the street
I ask my friends if they know
and they shake heads, and shuffle feet.Oh, no, where did it go
what happened my mind can't see;
Little lock opener I'm looking for you;
I miss you, golly gee.I have lost a key that I like,
but I'll find it have no fear,
Oh yes, I'll unlock my bike
this year.
Aug. 2006
THE MAN AND THE BICYCLE
The Man and the Bicycle went on a test ride
On a beautiful cool clear day:
He took water and Trail Mix for his hungry hide
Enough to last the whole long way.
The Man looked up to the sky above,
And said to his lovely steed,
"Oh, lovely Bike, oh, Bike, my love,
You are a beautiful Bike, indeed!
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Bike you are!" -
The Man said to the Bike, "You elegant transport,
How smooth, and sweet you ride!
Oh, let me buy you; too long I've been doing driving of another sort:
But how shall we get you to where I abide?"
They took the trip on 3 buses, and made it ok,
To the land where the Bike Trails are plenty;
And there along the river he told her they would ride it all the way,
With head and rear lights, and a U-Lock to keep her safe,
Her safe,
Her safe,
And a U-Lock to keep her safe. -
"Dear Bike, are you ready to go fast without spilling
Me?" Said the Man, and he sensed that she was.
So they rode away, and arrived at the end of a journey most thrilling
In the city for whose residents bicycling was a Cause.
He dined on a sandwhich and a bowl of yogurt,
Which he ate with a plastic spoon;
And then, on the Trail at the edge of the sand,
They rode by the light of the moon,
The moon,
The moon,
They rode by the light of the moon. - -
THE END.
With humble thanks, for the inspiration, to the incomparable Edward Lear, who wrote The Owl and The Pussy-Cat, in 1871. ;-D
March 2007...
THE BICYCLIST'S SONG
You know.... I never wanted to drive a car in the first place!
I... I wanted to be...
A BICYCLIST!
Riding mile after mile! As motorists are stuck in rush hour traffic!
Alone, or with my club mates by my side!
The Commute!
The Bike Lane!
The Class 1 Trail!
The breeze in our face!
We'd Ride! Ride! Ride!Oh, I'm a Bicyclist, and I'm okay.
I get in the saddle, and I pedal all day.A diverse group of Cyclists:
He's a Bicyclist, and he's okay.
He gets in the saddle, and he pedals all day.I wear a helmet. My bike has lights.
My head is safe, and I can see.
On some trips I am stoppin'
At places with a lava-try.Cyclists:
He wears a helmet. His bike has lights.
His head is safe, and he can see.
On some trips he is stopping,
At places with a lava-try.Chorus:
I'm (He's) a Bicyclist, and I'm (he's) okay.
I (He) get(s) in the saddle and I (he) pedal(s) all day.My bike has an odometer. I track every mile.
I like to ride for hours.
I even wear colorful shirts with back pockets
In which to stuff energy bars.Cyclists:
His bike has an odometer. He tracks every mile.
He likes to ride for hours.
He puts on colorful shirts with back pockets
In which to stuff energy bars!?Chorus:
I 'm (He's) a Bicyclist, and I'm (he's) okay.
I (He) get(s) in the saddle and I (he) pedal(s) all day.I bought a bike, expensive. I wear shoes with cleats,
and work out at the gym, and spa.
I want to be like Lancie,
And win the Tour de France, ha, ha!Cyclists:
He bought a bike expensive. He wears shoes with cleats,
And works out at the gym, and spa!?
(spoken, raggedly) What's this? Wants to be like *Lancie*??
Wants to win the Tour de France??? Oh, My!Chorus:
I 'm (He's) a Bicyclist, and I'm (he's) okay.
I (He) get(s) in the saddle and I (he) pedal(s) all day.Yes, I 'm (He's) a Bicyclist, and I'm (he's) ok-a-y.
I (He) get(s) in the saddle and I (he) pedal(s) all daaayyyyy!!!***NOTE***
With humble apologies to the masters of the Monty Python Troop, and the performers of The Lumberjack Song! ;-D
At just over 7 minutes you get the Barber Shop set up, the song, and the afterwards.
Michael Palin was brilliant!
What more could you ask for? Life is good! ;-DI love The Lumberjack Song, and that's ok,
It makes me smile, and laugh, all the live long daaaayyyy!!!! ;-DLyrics, so you can sing it yerself! ;-D
***END NOTE***
Sept. 2007...
GOOD-BYE! A Short, Silly, Cycling Poem
Motorists see red,
Cussing a blue.
As I pedal ahead.
Toodaloo!
--------------------------------
Sooo.... what sort of scene does this poem bring to your mind?
What sentiments are implied, in your mind, by these words?
No-one is right, or wrong, so give it some thought. ;-D
Finding inspiration in the works of others can lead to your own bit of inspired writing. ;-D
October 2007...
Bad Cyclist!
One day I read a story about cycling stupidity made worse by idiocy in jolly ol' England: A cyclist gave police a false name after he was seen riding on a pavement.
So what was the first thing that runs through my twisted little brain?
The lryics to the theme song of one of my favorite reality TV shows! (My sister and her hubby are Sheriff Deputies.)
You know the one, even if you don't know all the words.
Sing, or hum, along with my version. ;-D
BIKE POLICE
Lyrics by The Cycling Dude with sincere apologies to Inner Circle. (Watch the Video, on YouTube, to get in the right mood!)Bad cyclist, whatcha want, whatcha want,
Whatcha gonna do when the cops come for you.
Tell me, where ya gonna ride, whatcha gonna do? Yeahhh?Bad cyclist bad cyclist
Where ya gonna ride, whatcha gonna do
when they come for you
Bad cyclist, bad cyclist
Where ya gonna ride, watcha gonna do
when they come for youWhen you were eight
And you had a Schwinn that was great
You go to school and you learn the golden rule
So why are you acting like a bloody fool
If you wanna be hot you must ride coolBad cyclist bad cyclist
Where ya gonna ride, whatcha gonna do
when they come for you
Bad cyclist, bad cyclist
Where ya gonna ride, watcha gonna do
when they come for youYou ride it on that sidewalk
You ride it on this sidewalk
You ride it past mothers
You ride it past fathers
You ride it past your brother
You ride it past your sister
You ride it past everyone and you ride it past meBad cyclist bad cyclist
Where ya gonna ride, whatcha gonna do
when they come for you
Bad cyclist, bad cyclist
Where ya gonna ride, watcha gonna do
when they come for youBad cyclist bad cyclist
Where ya gonna ride, whatcha gonna do
when they come for you
Bad cyclist, bad cyclist
Where ya gonna ride, watcha gonna do
when they come for youNobody naw give you no break
Police naw give you no break
Soldier man-a give you no break
Not even Safe Cyclists naw give you no breakBad cyclist bad cyclist
Where ya gonna ride, whatcha gonna do
when they come for you
Bad cyclist, bad cyclist
Where ya gonna ride, watcha gonna do
when they come for youBad cyclist bad cyclist
Where ya gonna ride, whatcha gonna do
when they come for you
Bad cyclist, bad cyclist
Where ya gonna ride, watcha gonna do
when they come for youWhy did you have to ride where it's not so keen?
Don't you know you're a human being,
Born of a mother with the love of a father,
Reflections come and reflections go
I know sometimes - you want to just ride, hey, hey, hey
I know sometimes - you want to just go, wohh!Bad cyclist bad cyclist
Where ya gonna ride, whatcha gonna do
when they come for you
Bad cyclist, bad cyclist
Where ya gonna ride, watcha gonna do
when they come for youYou're too bad.
You're too rude
You're too bad
You're too rude, yeah
Bad cyclist bad cyclist
Where ya gonna ride, whatcha gonna do
when they come for you
Bad cyclist, bad cyclist
Where ya gonna ride, watcha gonna do
when they come for youYou ride it on that sidewalk
You ride it on this sidewalk
You ride it past mothers
You ride it past fathers
You ride it past your brother
You ride it past your sister
You ride it past everyone and you ride it past meBad cyclist bad cyclist
Where ya gonna ride, whatcha gonna do
when they come for you
Bad cyclist, bad cyclist
Where ya gonna ride, watcha gonna do
when they come for you
April 2008...
BIKE TRAILS ( With apologies to the folks responsible for the classic TV Show Green Acres.;-D )
Bike Trails are the place for me.
Car free pedaling is the life for me.
Miles of asphalt for me to travel.
Keep the freeway, just give me that cool gravel.The Interstate is where I'd rather be.
I enjoy the speed you see.
I just adore that multi-lane heaven.
Honey I love you but give me Highway 67....The quiet.
...I don't buy it.
...Fresh air.
...Where?You are my wife.
Good bye, gas guzzling life.
Bike Trails we are there.
June 2008...
With sincere apologies to Scotland (Wikipedia History), Tony Sheridan (YouTube), Ray Charles (YouTube), and children everywhere (Hum the melody!) for this parody of My Bonnie. ;-D.
MY BICYCLE
My bicycle takes me along the bike trail, my bicycle heads down the road with me,
My bicycle takes me along the bike trail , O come ride with my bicycle and me.Chorus:
Ride with, ride with, O ride with my bicycle and me, and me:
Ride with, ride with, O ride with my bicycle and me.O pedal ye swiftly over the bike trail,
O pedal ye swiftly to the sea.
O pedal ye swiftly over the bike trail,
And ride your bicycle with me.Repeat chorus
Last night as I lay on my pillow,
Last night as I lay on my bed,
Last night as I lay on my pillow,
I dreamed that bicycling was dead.Repeat chorus
The bicycles have ridden down the bike trail,
The bicycles have ridden to the sea,
The bicycles have ridden down the bike trail,
And brought you on your ride to join me.Repeat chorus
My bicycle needs no gas tank,
It is people powered you see,
I use my own legs to assist her,
O come ride your bicycle with me.Repeat chorus
Last night as I went by all the cars,
Last night as I watched them drive ahead,
Seeing they were numerous as the stars,
I imagined that all the bicyclists were dead.Repeat chorus
My mother wouldn't even let me ride in the bike lane,
My father thought Mountain Biking a sin,
My sisters thought not having a car was insane,
Wouldja believe what a pickle I was in?Repeat chorus
My mother, she got run over by a Yugo,
My father, he died flattened by a truck,
My sisters were killed by a drunk driver you know,
My God, to die this way, what the F***? (or Heck, if around the kiddies!)Repeat chorus
I tried joining the Auto Club,
I tried rush hour, high gas prices, and the like,
I tried owning a car like you, bub
Now I happily just cruise on my bike.
August 2008...
With humble apologies to the incomparable Ray Stevens, and his fabulous song, The Streak (Watch the Video!):
THE CYCLING GEEK
REPORTER:
Hello everybody, this is your Fox News correspondent
We report, and you decide, on the news across the nation.
I'm on the scene at the Arco AMPM Service Station
There seems to have been some disturbance here.
Pardon me, sir, did you see what just happened?
WITNESS:
Yeh, I did...I was standing over there filling up my gas tank
And here he comes
Through the parking lot, into the bike lane, and around the corner
Faster than a Roadrunner!
And I hollered over at Ethel...I said watch out Ethel!
It was too late, she'd already been startled...
CHORUS:
Here he comes, boogie-dad, boogie-dad
There he goes, boogie-dad, boogie-dad
And he's wearing strange clothes!
Oh, yes, they call him the Cycling Geek
Fastest thing moving two feet
He's just as proud as he can be
Of his hybrid bicycle
He loves to give motorists a tweak.
Oh, yes, they call him the Cycling Geek
He likes to show off his physique
If there are cars to be found
One Hundred riders just like him will be streakin' around
Invitin' public critique...
REPORTER:
This is your Fox News correspondent once again
And we're here at the major intersection.
Pardon me, sir, did you see what just happened?
WITNESS:
Yeh, I did...I was next to my car checking the tires
And he just appeared in the middle of traffic
Come streaking into the left turn lane, there, and through the intersection
Didn't do nothing but use hand signals, and flash a great big smile.
I looked over there where Ethel was sippin' her cool drink and I hollered...Hey, look, Ethel!
It was great! She'd already seen the poltroon
Flashed a middle finger at him in front of God and everybody!
CHORUS:
He ain't rude to motorists, boogie-dad, boogie-dad
He ain't stuck in rush hour traffic, boogie-dad, boogie-dad
He just loves to ride his bicycle because it's fantastic.
Oh, yes, they call him the Cycling Geek
He loves the feel of a saddle under his butt cheek
Wearin' his colorful jersey, and expensive riding shoes
Guess you could call him a freak...
REPORTER:
Once again, your Fox News correspondent on the mountain highway
Covering the disturbance on the side of the road.
Pardon me, sir, did you see what just happened?
WITNESS:
Yeh, I did...just in time. I was standing at the side of the road
Looking out over the canyon with Ethel
Here he come right down the winding road, likety-split
Keeping to the side of the narrow street
Watching for passing traffic
Heading straight toward us.
I hollered over at Ethel, I said look out Ethel!
It was too late...She'd already moved, having seen what I had not.
The guy was on a three-seater, with a friend, and an empty middle spot.
Here they come again...look...who's that with them?
Ethel? What the hell's the matter with you, Ethel?
What do you think you are doing?
You get your ass off that damn contraption!
Ethel, where are you going?
Ethel, you traitor!
Leave me the damn keys, Ethel!
ETHEL!!!!
And finally...as the new year begins, let's take the opportunity to celebrate Christmas 2008 just one more time!
THE JINGLE BICYCLE SONG
( With Humble Apologies to James Pierpont, 1857 )
Listen to the Melody while singing along! ;-D
Pedaling through the snow
On my trusty Steed,
Down the street I go,
Hoping Cars pay me heed;
Bell on handlebar rings,
Headlight making me so bright,
What fun it is to ride and sing
A cycling song tonight.Chorus:
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride
My Bicycle around all day.A day or two ago,
I thought I'd take a Tandem ride,
And soon Miss Annie Bryte
Was seated behind my backside;
The bike was clean down to the crank;
Misfortune was not our lot;
We sped past a drifted bank,
And did not get upsot.Chorus:
A day or two ago,
Another story I must tell
I went riding in the snow
And off my bike I fell;
A gent was pedaling by
In a recombent,
He laughed as there I sprawling lie,
And away he quickly went.Chorus:
Now the road is clear
Ride it while you're young,
Take the girl you hold dear
And sing this sleighing song;
Just stay out all day
At a sedate, and comfy speed
Traveling a planned and certain way
With you taking up the lead.
Copyright 2008.
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