Bicycle Riders Poem by Devesh Path Sariya

We ride bicycles,
Feeling a deep connection to the wheels,
And to the spirit of their invention.
No fuel can ever replace
Our unwavering love for these spinning wonders.

We were taught that
The roads belong to us,
Just as much as they belong to pedestrians,
Though they may take precedence at times.

Yet, amidst the chaotic web of roads,
We are often deemed expendable,
Stripped of our rightful place,
Much like wildlife in sanctuaries overrun by tourists.

We ride bicycles,
Our feet intimately familiar with climbs and descents.
We know when to conserve energy and refrain from pedaling,
And when to push our calves into a rhythmic motion,
A unique kind of mathematics,
Unknown to scooter and motorcycle riders.

We ride alongside other vehicles,
Claiming the leftmost side of the road,
Or on the right, in foreign lands.
Ever mindful of the environment,
We may fall behind faster modes of transport,
But we find solace in the advantage gained,
When the zebra-crossing light turns green,
Allowing us to pedal alongside pedestrians,
Often without even dismounting our bikes.

We ride bicycles,
And within our hearts,
A schoolchild and the inventor of wheel
Resonate with excitement.

(Translation from Hindi by Shivam Tomar)