Bus stop shady
Sexy lady
Adult conversation
Gentle persuasion
London life
Future wife?
Marry me baby?
She says maybe
He says its got to be us
She gets on the bus
she waves call me
He nods maybe
Jilted man walks home alone
Empty bus stop advertises mobile phone
a hot summer
Working outside all day
finally home tired and weary
time to relax and unwind
slowly opening the fridge door
fully stacked with cold beer
reaching for his favorite
gazing at the label like a long lost friend
the ice cold bottle melting the sweat from his hand
unscrewing the top like champ
that whooshing sound is music to his ears
wakening his anticipating taste buds
lifting the bottle to drink
catching the sweet smell of the beer
instantly recognizing that aroma
old memories flashing across his mind
as the bottle met his lips
thoughts of sweet kisses from his first love
the cold beer flooding his mouth
cooling his baked neck from within
sinking half the bottle in one go
slumping into a porch chair
catching a breath of the hot humid air
his closing eyes instantly raising the theater curtain in his mind
seeing again the birth of his first child
watching him playing outside
teaching him to ride a bike
taking him on fishing trips
more thoughts of his young son flashed in
hearing young running footsteps approaching
the theater curtain in his mind closing as he opens his eyes
the young boy beamed I missed you grandpa
freshly baked scones
straight from the oven
slice one open
steam rises
distinctive aroma
add a little butter
watch it melt
add a dab of raspberry jam
be a devil
add more jam
pour a cup of hot tea
find a comfortable chair
bite into the scone
taste sensations
the sweetness of the jam
the soft buttery scone
take a sip of tea
eyes closing
taste memories flood in
early childhood
family gatherings
Sunday afternoon tea
fresh scones
lively conversations
fighting over the last scone
parents intervened
last scone shared
eyes opening
flash back to today
parents long gone
siblings live far away
eat more scone
sip more tea
eat more scone
eyes closing again
nostalgia on a plate
the rough rock bounced around
one of many living in the river bed
bumping and grinding
rolling and tumbling for centuries
transformed into a smooth pebble
chatting constantly with the other pebbles
he dreamed about adventures
exploring life outside the river
his friends told him to be careful
maneuvering himself to the shallows
hoping to leave the water
he saw people collecting pebbles
please pick me he whispered
one day he was picked up
taken away as a trophy
gently caressed and loved
at first he was very happy
until he was discarded in a drawer
laying abandoned in the dark
the pebble was sad
he stayed there for many years
until a boy discovered him
he took the pebble everywhere he went
sleeping under his pillow
on his desk at school
but the pebble was still sad
he missed being with all the other pebbles
the boy sensed that the pebble was unhappy
he took the pebble down to the river bank
asking if he wanted to go home
feeling the pebble glowing warm in his hands
the boy knew what he had to do
he tossed the pebble in the river
bumping and grinding again
trying to stay deep in the river
the pebble was happy again
better to be in a crowd of friends
than a lonely trophy pebble
you and me
back in 1963
like pods in a pea
we would always agree
you and me
we climbed a tree
just to see
how far we see
you and me
so carefree
splashing with glee
in the Irish Sea
you and me
now I’m a retiree
you are a divorcee
I often think of thee
you and me
silence is beautiful
if you have it
keep hold of it
until you have some equally beautiful words to say
then return to silence and think
silence is beautiful
silence is beautiful
if you have it
keep hold of it
until you have some equally beautiful words to say
then return to silence and reflect
silence is beautiful
The skies may be cloudy
But the sun shines in my eyes
It may be cold outside this morning
But a fire burns strong in my heart
The busy rush hour traffic is noisy
But I can still hear the birds singing
People are all rushing to get somewhere
But I took a three mile walk to nowhere just for fun
Commuters are all glued to their smartphones
But I pause to admire the bay views
People seem too busy to take a break
But I make time to check in with myself
Everybody seems preoccupied with something
But I make sure to spend some time doing nothing
I fear for those who appear to be over stressed
But I am in a good place and feeling blessed
Hitchhiking was common when I was young
Ran out of money when leaving the pub
Get back home with just a thumb
We did it often as a necessity
Group hitchhiking was more difficult
We put the cute girl at the side of the road
While the rest of us hid in the bushes
I never had a problem hitching a ride
People took pity on poor students
You could hitchhike all over Europe
Meeting interesting people along the way
Somehow hitchhiking became less popular
Maybe it was due to safety concerns
Or the fact that minor roads were replaced with freeways
I suspect the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie is to blame
America responded in typical reactionary fashion
Making it illegal to hitch a ride
Europeans are much more pragmatic
They made public transport more accessible
Low cost student rail passes across Europe
A better and more secure way to travel for students
Fast forward to today and look at the road
There are still young people looking for a ride
But they are holding a smartphone waiting for an Uber
Perhaps all the hitchhikers become Uber drivers
With so much traffic on the roads we need to change
Most cars have just a single occupant
Imagine a new version of hitchhiking
With an App to hitch a free ride
You build up points as a car driver
Picking up folks on the App looking for a free ride
You earn more points by picking up multiple riders
Spend your points by taking a free ride
Less cars on the road and lowers carbon footprint
Somebody probably just invented all this before I reached this line
I might hitch a ride home tomorrow
If you see an aging hippy please pull over
I am not a chainsaw murderer
Hopefully you are not a murdering driver
Cheeky Monkey Hitchhiking rules!
I mostly cycle in a group
Its much safer and the camaraderie is great fun
Today the rest of the group were unavailable
So I did the ride to Key Biscayne on my own
I have done the same route many times before
It never gets boring
There is always something new to see
I left late to avoid the morning rush
Carefully negotiating heavy traffic at the start
Valet parking for breakfast diners at Sadelle’s restaurant
Expensive cars and expensive coffee and bagels
Next challenge was crossing the roundabout on SW27th
Miami drivers don’t seem to know the rules of the road
Ignoring the cars already in the circle and just entering at high speed
I see near misses ever time
Today I waited for a big gap before sprinting across
Then onto a deserted Tigertail Avenue
Slowing to let a flock of peacocks walk across
I swear one of them winked at me
The short section of South Bayshore thankfully had light traffic
I turned towards Alice Wainwright park on a quiet street
Passing the former homes of Madonna and Sylvester Stallone
Its has become a Billionaires row with huge mansions
Some of them have security guards parked outside 24/7
I must be stressful to be so ultra wealthy
Pedaling onto the Rickenbacker causeway
Breathtaking views of Biscayne bay and the Miami skyline
I pushed hard up the bridge hugging the cycling lane
Cars speeding by just a few feet away to my left
My only protection is the white painted line on the roadway
I wear bright colored clothing to make myself visible
My bike has strobe flashing lights front and rear
I worry that drivers may be distracted and veer into the bike lane
Its not just the Miami skyline that might distract them
To my right there is a pedestrian walkway full of joggers
Mostly supermodels in skimpy outfits plodding up the bridge
I tried hard to keep my eyes firmly on the road ahead
I sped down the descent at an exhilarating 35mph
Thankfully all the cars stayed in the roadway
After a fast ride towards the village, I looped back
Onto the safety of Virginia Key
No cars on this uninhabited section
Just bikers enjoying the sunshine and cool December air
A large truck passed me hauling a smelly cargo
Heading towards the sewage treatment works
I reached the rest stop at the beach
Unfortunately no model photoshoots were in progress today
The beach was deserted apart from the yawning beach patrol guys
Although devoid of any wild human activity around the beach
There was plenty of of natural wildlife to see
Its amazing how close you can get to animals on a quiet bike
Raccoons were out playing in the roadway
Scurrying away when they spotted me approaching
The massive iguanas stood their ground as I got close
Miniature dinosaurs claiming the roadway for warmth after a cool night
A flock of white ibis were running along the side of the road
Pecking the grass in search of sustenance
They totally ignored me as I pedaled by
One more loop of the key and I turned for home
The Peacocks were still wandering around Tigertail
Watching the construction of new large contemporary homes
Which are progressively taking over the old neighborhoods
More expensive cars for the peacocks to dance on
I sped round the surprising empty roundabout on SW27th
Soon I was back home and taking a shower
I reflected on the 30 mile ride
Even when riding solo you are never alone
Cheeky Monkey Poetry 