Berkeley Breathed, Red Ranger Came Calling
Bike in a Tree
A house full of children
All of them wanting to ride
Ten-Speeds, two wheelers,
Trikes, lounging on the front lawn.
Where did you leave your bike?
A blank face, grimy with forest dirt, thoughtful,
Did he have the bike when they
Came out of the trail?
The next day it rained,
And the next, the whole family
Went to the beach,
The bike forgotten against the tree.
At first the tree felt the weight
As an irritation.
As days turned to years the branch
enveloped the red seat
Making a cradle to support the intruder.
The tree reached upward and
By default the bike was elevated as well.
Front wheel turning slightly right,
Ready to ride into the south wind.
Decades later,
Wondering eyes looked to see how it was done.
Why did the tree accept this burden?
Why had the bicycle stayed it's ground.
Who was the boy, now a grandfather,
Who abandoned his way around town?
By Gabriele
By Gabriele
This is truly a landmark on my island. To this day I have not heard an accurate account of how it could happen or who's bike it might have been. Legend says that the tree must have been growing around the bike for more than fifty years. Sadly, really sadly, it is deteriorating as the years pass. It sits nestled in the woods off the main highway and some years the path in is barely passable and other years someone whacks away the forest growth and the path to the bike is open and visible. I love the mystery of it. I love how nature accommodates and allows growing to happen even when obstacles stand in it's way.
I am writing for 31 days this October about Island Life. Click here to see the other days of writing.
That is amazing- I've never seen anything like it! I love the poem it inspired too!
ReplyDeleteIt really is amazing and the bicycle is breaking apart. Makes me sad.
DeleteWow! How totally amazing! I do wonder how it happened. That is a very neat poem.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Every once in a while I get some inspiration in poetry form.
DeleteI've seen that bike before!!! My man and I should go back before it disappears. Enjoyed your writing. :)
ReplyDeleteLove the bike, the tree, and the poem.
ReplyDeleteReally enjoy this. What a fun story. I like the mystery of it too!
ReplyDeleteHow interesting and intriguing! I like your observation of how nature makes accommodations. There's a lesson there, something about grace I'm sure. Wonderful post Gabriele.
ReplyDeleteThank you for solving a mystery for me. I have seen pictures of this bike on Pinterest countless times and have always wondered where exactly it was. So while the mystery of the bike, its owner, and the story of how it came to be there haven't been solved, at least the mystery of location has been. I love that in life we don't get to have all the answers. It is fun to fill in the blanks.
ReplyDelete