pedalpoet

The Odd Kite Theft

My grandpa is an aviation nut. He was in the Army Air Corps during WWII, he was a mechanic on B17 aircraft while in the service. He had a stack of Aviation magazines next to his reclining chair my entire childhood, and he would regularly take me to any airport we happened to be nearContinue reading “The Odd Kite Theft”

On Reading Poems

Sometimes I’m reminded that not everybody comes to poems on their own, and that poems can be confusing without a framework of how to go about reading and enjoying them. Here’s how I’ve come to read poems: a poem is a stand of woods you’d like to walk through. Usually there is a trailhead, startContinue reading “On Reading Poems”

Toonces The Cat Who Could Be President

Throughout the 45th presidency, I’ve tried to relate the state of the world to stories and literature in order to make sense of it all. 1984 the obvious choice. The Handmaid’s Tale, Brave New World, Animal Farm; I’ve more recently settled upon Toonces The Cat Who Could Drive a Car as the best story toContinue reading “Toonces The Cat Who Could Be President”

Bike #2 and the magic raffle

I have one clear memory when it comes to my second bike, which was also my first road bike. It was a Schwinn World Sport, I believe from 1980. Unlike most all of the other bikes I’ve owned, I don’t really have memories of riding this one. I do remember I got a handlebar-mounted touringContinue reading “Bike #2 and the magic raffle”

Bike #1 and the James Street Jump

I was around five when I got my first bike. It was a white Huffy with a Snoopy numberplate that said BARNSTORMER on it. I remember my grandmother said it was too big for me. I remember I thought it made me a big kid. My father took me out back behind our house toContinue reading “Bike #1 and the James Street Jump”

Mountain Biker’s Prayer

To be undressed at the Subaru’s hatch, pulling on shorts and peering into the woods for trails and sounds of life and signs of riding. To lube chain and dial-in brakes, shifting, saddle height, alone at the trailhead or with buddies, talking smack, sneaking a hit, stretching legs. To attack the trail and climb immediatelyContinue reading “Mountain Biker’s Prayer”

Ninja

Ninja climbs up to my lap, not simply jumping, no, climbing up to my lap, claws on display topping me, claiming me I’m furniture She’s vulnerable close in like this She’s given me my best advantage I could so easily grab her with both hands, wrap her up, confine her, restrict her So this, fullContinue reading “Ninja”

The Rise and Fall of Kozmo

Last night, out of the blue while lying in bed I thought of Kozmo, the internet-based delivery service that I knew from Seattle in about 1999 or 2000. That was right after I moved here, my second ex-wife and I had just moved into our first place in Wedgwood, high up on 35th Ave NEContinue reading “The Rise and Fall of Kozmo”

Bird Mob

So, I was eating lunch down at Lake Union near where I worked. There’s a little park, Waterway 15, right next to Ivar’s there. It’s a narrow little park sloping directly down to the water where there’s a spot to launch a kayak or canoe, and a few benches to look out at the lake.Continue reading “Bird Mob”

United

I’m on the 3 heading up James. It’s real steep and we are fully loaded, standing room only. It’s rush hour on a hot summer Thursday afternoon in Seattle. James goes straight up a steep grade under I-5 toward Boren Ave with a stop light and heavy cross traffic at each intersection. The bus isContinue reading “United”