7.1.26 - notes app on my phone

I don't go on many now,
they're too solitary
and thoughts move faster
the slower I go,
instead of stumbling down
steep hills at a horizontal angle
one foot always catching up
to the other's brace,
I like to ride my bike
feet in unison.

I can't think on a bike
atleast not over that desire
to go faster
and grip those handlebars
like I'm a punk kid
speeding down in an uncle's car,
she tells me everything I need to know
and I spill my heart to her
knowing my words get scattered
to the wind like little letters
with unstamped envelopes
sent to every bushy tree I pass
and every bird I swerve around
on the great road,
my bike doesn't need to understand me
just like a dog doesn't,
we just need to know when we're going
and she kisses my feet and asks
'how fast'
and I finally feel like a child

author's note

falling in love with my first bike, riding it every day since i got it. this bike helped me through a lot of feelings, and heavily inspired by kino's journey, it truly does feel like a companion to me more than a vehicle or tool. i find myself personifying it too much oftentimes- like when the crank would make a funny noise i'd apologise, or if i push the bike too hard or scrape it i'll ask if she's okay.

this poem also comes at a time where i'm rediscovering a sense of childhood in myself from growing up too fast (see the blog: 'growing into a child') and the bike has become something i feel deeply connected to and serves as an internal metaphor for a newfound sense of freedom, both in the way that i can get to places more readily but also have an emotional freedom to be a stupid kid once again.