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Riding with You

Submitted by Kristen H. on Sun, 2022-07-31 20:08

We met in the rain
on a cool, September night.
We talked and we drank
and you saw my Ace.

You asked, “Whose is that?”
“Mine,” I replied.
You gave me a look:
Shock and awe
and love at first sight.

Rubber to the asphalt,
Helmets and gloves, just in case.
We rode and rode
until the sun came up.

Ace was mine but I rode on the back.
I watched you drag your knees
as I reached out and grabbed the grass.
No one could touch us.

Thick as thieves,
Bonnie and Clyde,
We hit illegal speeds
Night after night
after night.

For years we would ride,
run from the law,
hideout, blacked out,
wait for the party lights
…run again.

Wrong lights,
ER flight,
fight for your life.

Bike totaled.
1000 in view.
You shoved your cast onto the throttle
and rode like it was the last ride of your life.

You throw out two fingers to riders
and one finger to cops,
one wheel in the air
and two when we hit a hill too fast.
I was always alive with you.

Rubber to the asphalt,
Helmet and gloves, just in case.
I hit illegal speeds and drag my knees,
with a smile on my face,
thinking of you.

Style / type:

Free verse

Review Request (Intensity):

I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back

Last few words:

No rhyme or reason. Just a poem about the good ol' days.

Editing stage:

Editing - rough draft

Contest:

Neopoem of The Week Contest July 31 to August 6 2022

Content level:

Not Explicit Content

Comments

Geezer

Sun, 2022-07-31 22:04

Yes...

the good old days! Once a biker, always a biker. I still ride with the people that I rode with; only as a passenger in a memory.
Some of those people still ride and we get together and talk about where they've been and remembering the 'Old Days'.
This brought some of that back to me. Nice telling of the story with simple language and a smile on your face. Curious; what was the "1000 in view"? I don't see anything I would change. ~ Geezer.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

Kristen H.

Sun, 2022-07-31 22:53

Once a biker

Always a biker is so very true! I still talk to some of the people I used to ride with as well. "1000 in view" as in, "he" got a new 1000 bike. He totaled his zx6r then bought a zx10 and rode it before he was even out of a cast. Thankfully, he never wrecked my "Ace" a CBR600rr :)

author comment

Rosewood Apothecary

Mon, 2022-08-01 03:45

On the birthday of my uncle

He loved his bike so much he died on it. Be about 30 years ago in September he crashed and burned. I can still remember the sounds of all the bikes getting kicked over at his funeral, like a battle cry for a fallen brother. It’s a sub culture I’ve never been involved with but it’s really similar to my experience with Grateful Dead fans. We fly our little flags and have our little nuances to identify each other from the din. I believe the sentiment “we are everywhere” applies to both of these sun cultures. Whether you wear a suit and tie or sell grilled cheese in the parking lot of concerts you’re still a “Dead Head” it transcends social structures and dissolves class. Bikers are like that but I’d say they’re obviously more prevalent. Biker culture is a phenomenon of massive proportions and I dig the camaraderie. This work moved me. Nice job conveying the experience (I had two stroke motocross bikes so I get that part) of speeding dangerously. It really is a unique adrenaline rush. You hit the mark describing that. It’s a little reminiscent of some of Hunter S. Thompson’s work on the subject.

Well done,
Tim

Kristen H.

Mon, 2022-08-01 08:30

Thank you

for your comment! It is indeed a wild subculture and we love it. My dad died on his bike as well. He's the one who originally taught me how to ride (not who this poem is about). I haven't read Thompsons work on the topic, I'll have to go read it! Thanks for the feedback!

author comment

Candlewitch

Mon, 2022-08-01 10:59

dear Kristen,

my husband and I each had our own motorcycles. I loved doing it both ways...riding behind him and riding beside him. we are retired now and so are our bikes. I have psoriatic arthritis and can't ride anymore...but I have memories!

*hugs, Cat

*
When someone reads your work
And responds, please be courteous
And reply in kind, thanks.

Kristen H.

Mon, 2022-08-01 15:21