Pedaling on the Bike Path Called Life

Five Tanka Poems About Living

In this tanka series, I explore bicycling as a metaphor for the experience of everyday life. These poems offer insights and lessons about hope and perseverance, how contrast alters our experience of place, assumptions about aging, the effect of observed need on human generosity, and dialectical tension between our desires for routine and novelty. I hope you enjoy reading these as much I as enjoyed writing them.

bicycling through life we select a direction and hang on to hope our grit keeps us pedaling on a path to the unknown

graffiti-painted slab structure walls towering from barren brick streets transform humble forest trails into wooded wonderlands

caressed by the sun tailwinds swirling at my back I strain to pedal grimace at growing older until I spot the flat tire

my rusty red bike good riding to the market I parked at the rack a ragged man tries the seat I watch him pedal away

her well-worn bike seat easing familiar bumps on tired trails reveals how odd are creatures of habit who expect their lives to change

Thank you to Debra G. Harman, MEd. and Imogene’s Notebook for providing a home for short fiction, microfiction, and poetry.