Bicycles and Me

Katie sings of bicycles,

nine million in Beijing.

Can you imagine all those bells,

if they should start to ring?

An orchestra's obnoxious sound,

a jarring, noisy din.

Can you anticipate the hell

of parking in that place?

You'd need to know your bearings well

to find an empty space.

And then you'd have the problem of

retrieving one you own.

How would you find the one that's yours

when all of them are cloned?

I'm thankful that I've room to move,

with air that's clean to breathe.

I'm thankful for the birds that sing

in woodlands deep in trees.

And though I've been and seen Beijing,

was pleased that I could go,

I couldn't wait to travel home

to country views I know.

Reviews

[Neville]

I really like that old song, and remember hearing it for the first time .. it's one of them that grows on ya, isn't it .. unlike your little dedication to it and subsequent thoughts on the matter .. which I enjoyed from the off ........................................... it kinda rings my bell anyway, ting-a-ling and toodle oooh :)

[Chris Shaw]

Better late than neva. How did I miss thanking you? A sorry my friend.

Chris

[Neville]

no worries .. have a good day Chris :)

[Ken e Bujold]

if you think Beijing is bad, can't imagine what you would think of China's Disney Land on Acid, otherwise known as Shanghai.
Loved the idea of all the bells ringing, made me smile, mostly because my memories of China, would add a bit of melody to the earsplitting din of everything going on around you.

ken

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Ken, thanks for checking this old poem out. I have no plans to return, so will have to take your word on Shanghai. Pleased these lines brought a smile to your face. I am a country girl at heart, so I was like a fish out of water when I visited. Quite a while back now. Probably even noisier and more populated:) Have a great day.

Chris

[Ken e Bujold]

like you I have no desire to revist the mainland of C. Hong Kong is a city I enjoy, and if things ever settle down I might well return for a walk about. Beijing I found dark and dreary. Shanghai is bustling, but really is disney land on acid, the architecture is gauche but often times breathtakingly stunning

[Chris Shaw]

You know at my age Disney land on acid could be a killer :) Give me a nice quiet island surrounded by white sand blue sea and palm trees. Preferably with no one else there :)

[Ken e Bujold]

other than the palm trees I think Charles has one in his back yard, he calls it the pool :)

[Chris Shaw]

:)).................

[Red Brick Keshner]

Oh no! Not all at once in a boisterous cacophony! More than just bicycles it really is the amount of space to roam and stretch and be! There are even places where the thoroughfares are built and designed to release the humble pushbike to its full potentiality. So it may be that I am on the fence on this topic. Glad to have this poem after a tiresome grey day!

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Freds. I have to say that I was not happy in Beijing. One bicycle in the countryside could be my idea of heaven, but that many in Beijing was my idea of hell. It is a blue sky day here. Hope your today isn't as grey and tiresome. Pleased to catch you this morning. All good wishes.

Chris

[Red Brick Keshner]

In Bangkok, Kathmandu and Vietnam it was the mopeds and Honda scooters that drove one mad! Like crocodiles and hyenas on a stampede.

[Chris Shaw]

Ha, now you have me laughing Freds. I have just eliminated three more places from my future travels :)

[Red Brick Keshner]

Should you decide otherwise, the rural resorts and towns are the best place for an idyllic getaway!

[red93]

Beijing does not appeal. Tokyo is meant to be like another Planet, according to Friends who have visited. The local Coop has started selling Sushi snacks, very pleasant. I have some more free-form Haiku brewing atm, hopefully they will not upset the traditionalists on The Writers Cafe, and appeal to those who are 'enlightened'. Nice work Chris, well put together as ever.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Tony. I enjoy Haiku. Really appreciate the thoughts you have shared here. Never been to Tokyo. These days I'm inclined to stay at home. Hope all is well with you and I do appreciate your support and encouraging reviews.

Chris

[Pete]

and we think our rush hours are bad. this is certainly "on" the beaten path. uggh - hard to imagine a place so crowded. i llove my bicycle but give me the open spaces. reminds me to be thankful. very nicely said chris ... :)

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Pete, pleased you enjoyed the read. All the best.

Chris

[Lathen Griffiths]

I couldn’t cope somewhere that busy I don’t think Chris, lovely poem.


Lathe

[Chris Shaw]

It put a new meaning to the word crowded Lathe. Vowed never to return. Thanks for the review.

Chris

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

"I'm thankful that I've room to move,
with air that's clean to breathe.
I'm thankful for the birds that sing
in woodlands deep in trees."
Love this whimsical, wonderfully rhymed and jaunty, rhythmic poem dear Chris. Your well-placed humorous questions and vivid imagery take me on a smiling, cacophonous bike trip to Beijing, a place I've never been. Unfortunately, I've never had a bike either or learned to ride-only admired those who do so well. Yes, I feel your last verse so much and am always so glad to return home when I've been away. There's no place like home! xo

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Annette. I'm usually ready to go home at the end of a holiday, but this was a business trip and I wanted home within a couple of days arriving. Fish out of water I was. So pleased you enjoyed the read. Take care.

Chris

[alanwgraham]

Very good Chris. I've been a lifelong cyclist myself but I appreciate quiet roads. We spent a long holiday travelling in India and experienced cities so jam packed with bikes crossing them was nearly impossible. I agree that travel broadens the mind but home is very welcome.
All the best and check your tyres!
Alan

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Alan for checking in. Hope you and your family are keeping well. All the best.

read moreThank you Alan for checking in. Hope you and your family are keeping well. All the best.

Chris

[NFA]

Love this poem with its many different themes. Homesickness weighed heavy, reminding me that matter where we go, we always have elsewhere to call home. Another theme was individuality, moving me to think how some people go to other countries to find themselves, but sometimes even that is hard. Very thought provoking write.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much. I felt like a fish out of water. Couldn't wait to get home. Really appreciate this thoughtful review.

Chris

[Melinda McQueen]

What a lovely write to share memories dear to your soul.
Thanks for sharing.

[Chris Shaw]

So pleased you enjoyed reading this poem Melinda. I thank you fir stopping by.

Chris