By his kind, as a boy, I was so fascinated <br />When I saw men balance and busily ride <br />I'd imagine they're sailing over fluffy cloud <br />Freely wherever, whenever they dreamed! <br /> <br />I'd rent a mini version of him, few quarters <br />For an hour's ride at playground-n-streets <br />That hire hour would flyaway the fastest <br />Never have I felt time fly faster than that <br /> <br />I then realised we had an old him at home <br />He was gathering dust and rust until then <br />He was used by my brother for commute <br />Far outside the city, to a technical institute <br /> <br />Shook him out from years of deep slumber <br />Used pocket money getting him back together <br />Finally he was up repaired and polished <br />To take me on my much exciting cycle ride <br /> <br />Short that I was then, I could hardly hit <br />The ground when on his leather seat <br />That little bothered me, my thoughts clear <br />He will not disappoint me, I was so sure! <br /> <br />I gathered the courage needed to ride him <br />On the streets of the town to merrily skim <br />Roads alongside many a big bus and car. <br />He majestically wheeled on, just a whisper <br /> <br />Through many a street to highway road <br />So excited that I couldn't stop the ride <br />Nor get off from his hard leather seat <br />For a little pause or even for a moment <br /> <br />As I sped on many a wide highway road <br />Wind whizzing past my ears, so like a bird <br />Lampposts flew past in momentary blur <br />People walking seemed slower than ever <br /> <br />Finally I returned home, to anxious family <br />Waiting for their missing son impatiently <br />Parents' scolding never took away the joy <br />That I got from the maiden long cycle ride <br /> <br />Had to constantly repair as he was so old <br />But he was my passion, greater than gold <br />My many subsequent vehicle possession <br />Never gave me that great a satisfaction!<br /><br />Padmanabhan Ananth<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/that-joy-ride/
