Tag Archives: interconnected

20 or 35

Author’s note: Is it bad that I mostly wrote this after a bike ride nearly a week ago, with some editing and additions over the next two days, but didn’t post it yet so that I could do final edits in the sauna, so it could belong to my “sauna sonnets” collection?

Twenty

Twenty miles per hour may not seem too fast
When you're accustomed to interstate speeds,
Or when one lane view fills with tractor vast,
Or when an ER visit is your need.
But on road bike, lemonade stand spied,
It gives no time to consider barter;
"Sorry, I didn't bring any money,"
Words lost in the wind? But how I replied.
And on a road bike, familiar face eyed,
It gives no time to consider ardour,
Before the road calls, "attention, Sonny!"
Attempt to determine face I revised.
Future me: be more free with hand waves cast;
Have lemonade cash so sale may proceed.

Thirty Five

Thirty five miles isn't far by car,
By motorcycle, or carbon-based horse.
Road bike though, it raises the bar by force.
I've got lemonade cash for some kids' jar;
Exterior paths of urban lake take.
Lo! A lemonade stand I surely found.
Lemonade downed, to entry point I'm bound.
Exit lake, for a scenic view make; break.
Young dark haired woman on street corner stood.
I stopped, drank, opened snack (just shy of good).
"Here Bennie," she called out to dog just passed.
Her look, voice, familiarity hast,
Dots connect as down walk she runs not fast.
One lesson learned, the other, failed indeed.

Copyright ©️ 2024 H.K. Longmore

Songbird

“the liquid coolness of things drawn from the bottom of springs,” said Thoreau, of the song of a wood thrush.

A song I’ve yet to hear, but I’ve been told I should, paired with a wonderful singing voice, awaits out in the future night. Or perhaps it will be day when I hear that lay.

Will that song remind me of drawing water from the well of spring? (A task I’ve never done.)

Or will it evoke the heat of campfires on bitter winter nights?

Take away my breath as I plunge into a glacial lake not yet warmed by summer sun?

Restore it; a rescuer’s timely arrival on the scene, as waves wash my breathless body on the strand?

Will anticipation sour the grapes? Or sweeten the long awaited musical embrace?

I’ll pray I’ll hear it someday, even if only by His grace.

Copyright ©️ 2024 H.K. Longmore

Interconnected and self-governed?