An Adventurist Bike Ride Poem by Deanna Samuels

A clear but cold sunny day had opened,
unlike that of yesterday with bitter wind.
Carried out a few unexciting morning tasks
but that sun was beckoning fast!
That's it, went out for a lone quiet bike ride,
could not resist, dressed up warmly.

It was glorious out, passed many abodes,
shadows of bare trees streaked across street.
Rode towards path that runs behind house,
down the long slope and over the wooden bridge
and looking over, banks were lined by scrunchy ice
which also had formed into frozen scum rounds,
giving an appearance of large uncooked pies
while the cold brook waters slowly whirled by.

Onto the path besides the running stream
flanked by dead bullrush and tall hay like dried grasses
which only a few months ago were such vivid green
overlooked by the nakedness of leafless trees.
Onwards, along the yellow ribboned path, unexpectedly,
came to a full stop, a tree had fallen across the way.
No way round this tree trunk gave, each end blocked
so retreated, bike too heavy to lift across.
Cycled back over wooden bridge, up the steep hill,
onto paths of local streets and continued on the ride.

By stormwater pond, peeked through the bare trees,
multiple ducks were swimming and many by the banks.
Curiously, wanted to have a closer look so
turned around and cycled down the gravel path beside.
Instantly, hundreds of ducks swept up the incline
standing, sitting, some surrounded the bike
waiting, wanting, staring directly at me.
suddenly realized, they were hungry, needing food
reminded me of the Hitchcock movie, ‘The Birds'.
Sadly, had nothing to offer for their empty tums,
quickly reversed and biked well out of their way!

Continuing the ride around the locale, taking in ambience,
viewing wintering trees so stark against clear blue sky
suddenly, beyond, saw a blur of red, a large bush at far end.
When reached, branches had bunches of pellet red leaves,
something unusual for this normal winter leafless scene.
Rode by the duck pond not daring to go down gravel path
and onwards towards the safety of home.

Almost there, glimpsed an unusually small bright red car
and who was driving? Santa! Well, this was too much!
Lo and behold the car stopped a short way ahead
and Santa emerged, arms full of toys and seasonal parcels,
making his way on garden path to house he had parked by.
I smiled at this scene and carried on cycling around the block
but just in time to see Santa waving, leaving with a Ho! Ho! Ho!
returning to his small red car and then rode on his way -
a modern mode in place of trusty reindeer and sleigh!
Quite an ending to an unexpected adventurist bike ride.


Written at Courtice, Ontario - 13th December 2024