her bike desired the sea
her bike desired the sight
she desired the taste of salt
the sting on broken skin
so over the rocks she went
from the scenic view
she abandoned her bike
she left it
all for you
This poem was inspired by this photograph by Tracey Grumbach (via http://dversepoets.com/2012/04/07/poetics-new-view-for-you/)
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Wow! This was unexpected.
Thanks for stopping by and reading. 🙂
This is quite unexpected and well crafted, with a dark and sharp twist. Excellent take on the prompt.
Thank you.
sometimes…you just have to get closer and deeper…and then the bike can’t follow any more…yes..i get this..
The bike, or anything made by another person.
smiles…nice dance in this…i def desire the salt kiss and taste of the air….and the rhythm of the ocean…yeah…so if i got to get there by bike, so be it…and cool to leave the map or the way for others to follow…smiles.
Thanks, Brian.
it’s like the bike is her heart and she left the heart also (and it wasn’t even San Francisco, or was it?)
black tailed fliers
Well, if one took it as even remotely autobiographical, San Francisco would be one of the possibilities. 😉 I lived there almost as long as I’ve now lived in Belfast.
Good take on the photo. Puts me in mind of the “white bicycles” just take them to your destination and leave them. Maybe it’s what we should do with everything when we are finished with it. Lovely metaphor. Thanks.
I like that idea. I practice something a little like this since I seem to move internationally every few years. All my old stuff gets donated, usually to a thrift shop.
Thanks all. I guess whenever I see a photo with so much evidence of human presence but with no person in the frame, I’m compelled to make up a story to explain why it’s that way.
Wow…unexpected take on the photo but a marvelous piece!
Thanks, Susie.
Okay, I won’t say WOW, even though I thought it. I’ve eard of attention grabbing openings, but you jolted me at the end, in a matter-of-factly kind of way. Very sharp and clean and interesting voice. Excellente!
Thanks, Henry. I’ve gone in for the big ending as long as I can remember; the challenge is making the rest of the poem stand up to it.
“she desired the taste of salt
the sting on broken skin”
I think when we are numb emotionally, the sting on broken skin is a welcome friend…at least she feels SOMETHING.
Such an honor for you to use my image as inspiration. Thank you for your words.
That’s it exactly. Thank you so much for letting your images be used in this way. 🙂
I love this line: “her bike desired the sea”
And the idea that she went over the edge. You told a great story in so few words; excellent.
Thanks, Shawna. I like to imagine that everything in the world desires something, even those things that can’t be aware of desire.
Love the story in this – beautifully wrought
Thank you, Marousia!
I like the unexpected twist…very well done~
Nice to meet you at D’verse
Thanks!
Perfect. Thank you.
I’m glad you liked it. 🙂