decterlove
02-23-2008, 01:18 PM
I took a bike ride last night
not intending to,
but I missed the last bus out of town
and declined to call my roommate for a ride
or delayed calling him anyway
to risk riding home in the dark alone,
to wherever my destiny takes me
in this world or the next.
It was a reckless thing to do
I admit
and I'm not one of those mesomorphic adrenaline junkies,
I know you're out there,
not my thing
I'm a vata type, ectomorph
it's the contemplation of such matters that intrigues me
I avoid danger and disregard in general
I like the odds in my favor,
but one must always be prepared to break one's rules
if one wishes to discover more about one's true situation.
The Moon was full (almost, waning) and in my favor,
The Rain had let up for a few hours,
just a few wisps of clouds against the black sky
and mountains framing my focus and intent
I happened to have juice, coke and chocolate with me,
my backpack was heavy
but not unbearable.
I knew what to expect,
had done the ride once in bright daylight
didn't think I could do it then
and didn't really know if it could be done now
the six hills, the narrows,
cars, trucks, and rvs whizzing by
I calculated the risks
knew when to pull off to the side of the road
and wondered still if I could actually do it.
It was a meditation above all
I had to even ignore for the most part the marvelous
moon lit landscape, fields almost luminescent and surreal
I knew it would take two hours roughly
and I had to beat the cold, the road, and the fatigue
that would eventually set in.
My seat was hard, thighs challenged
But my hamstrings did most of the complaining
My shoulders accepted the load
and my eyes concentrated on
the thin white line
that remained when all else disappeared.
Cars were both an ally and a foe
The ones approaching
blinding me at times
forcing me to pull off, stop
and wait for them to fly by
The ones behind me allies
for a brief span of time
illuminating the road ahead
then changing into deadly enemies
as they sped by.
The key thing to it all
was the fact that I could see myself actually
succeeding
I could see myself reaching my destination
and feeling thrilled and exuberant
mildly triumphant if you will
but I was aware of the banality and the foolhardiness
of it all too
I just wanted to do it
to see if it could be done.
So I ask you now
What would you like to do
in your life
in your heart
that you don't really believe
is possible
and
you're not really sure is worth the risk?
If you are browsing the personals
could it be love
that lies at the end of some finish line for you?
Can you see yourself at the altar?
or maybe just at the mall shopping with your partner?
or cleaning up plates after a perfect breakfast?
or lying relaxed in the afterglow
of intimate
pleasures
Is it possible?
Really worth the risks involved?
and there really are risks involved
let's be frank
you may not need a helmet to love
but you damn well better bring
some protection
and you better pay close attention to the road
as well.
So I challenge you
to take the long ride into your darkest night
and ignore all the myriad of distractions
some pleasant and enticing
some only uncomfortable
and fly
towards
the vision
that will burn forever in your heart
when this road is closed
and some new world awaits you.
And if you'd rather just play it safe,
then don't miss the last bus out of town.
not intending to,
but I missed the last bus out of town
and declined to call my roommate for a ride
or delayed calling him anyway
to risk riding home in the dark alone,
to wherever my destiny takes me
in this world or the next.
It was a reckless thing to do
I admit
and I'm not one of those mesomorphic adrenaline junkies,
I know you're out there,
not my thing
I'm a vata type, ectomorph
it's the contemplation of such matters that intrigues me
I avoid danger and disregard in general
I like the odds in my favor,
but one must always be prepared to break one's rules
if one wishes to discover more about one's true situation.
The Moon was full (almost, waning) and in my favor,
The Rain had let up for a few hours,
just a few wisps of clouds against the black sky
and mountains framing my focus and intent
I happened to have juice, coke and chocolate with me,
my backpack was heavy
but not unbearable.
I knew what to expect,
had done the ride once in bright daylight
didn't think I could do it then
and didn't really know if it could be done now
the six hills, the narrows,
cars, trucks, and rvs whizzing by
I calculated the risks
knew when to pull off to the side of the road
and wondered still if I could actually do it.
It was a meditation above all
I had to even ignore for the most part the marvelous
moon lit landscape, fields almost luminescent and surreal
I knew it would take two hours roughly
and I had to beat the cold, the road, and the fatigue
that would eventually set in.
My seat was hard, thighs challenged
But my hamstrings did most of the complaining
My shoulders accepted the load
and my eyes concentrated on
the thin white line
that remained when all else disappeared.
Cars were both an ally and a foe
The ones approaching
blinding me at times
forcing me to pull off, stop
and wait for them to fly by
The ones behind me allies
for a brief span of time
illuminating the road ahead
then changing into deadly enemies
as they sped by.
The key thing to it all
was the fact that I could see myself actually
succeeding
I could see myself reaching my destination
and feeling thrilled and exuberant
mildly triumphant if you will
but I was aware of the banality and the foolhardiness
of it all too
I just wanted to do it
to see if it could be done.
So I ask you now
What would you like to do
in your life
in your heart
that you don't really believe
is possible
and
you're not really sure is worth the risk?
If you are browsing the personals
could it be love
that lies at the end of some finish line for you?
Can you see yourself at the altar?
or maybe just at the mall shopping with your partner?
or cleaning up plates after a perfect breakfast?
or lying relaxed in the afterglow
of intimate
pleasures
Is it possible?
Really worth the risks involved?
and there really are risks involved
let's be frank
you may not need a helmet to love
but you damn well better bring
some protection
and you better pay close attention to the road
as well.
So I challenge you
to take the long ride into your darkest night
and ignore all the myriad of distractions
some pleasant and enticing
some only uncomfortable
and fly
towards
the vision
that will burn forever in your heart
when this road is closed
and some new world awaits you.
And if you'd rather just play it safe,
then don't miss the last bus out of town.