Magnum Opus

The Bicycle

Once upon a morning cloudy, I set out, still with head so drowsy,

In search of legends known to some - Chuffy, Kathy, the mighty Si.

At length was heard the sound of squeaking, then a breathless voice was speaking,

A tall girl pulled up, nearly reeking, reeking from her valiant ride.

"'Tis some visitor" is muttered, "seeking all of those inside." -

-- "Is this Cake Stop?" I replied.

"Unclip thyself from thine recumbent", such disapproval surely unmeant?

Still questioning as one went through the door and being eyed.

Worrying of little matter, flapjacks laid on yonder platter,

Forsooth a dish ne'er lush or fatter, fatter from the sweet inside -

and thirst to quench through foreign teas, none I'd seen or ever tried -

-- This be Cake Stop, I decide.

And the lycra-clad sodality sporting hellbent road mentality

Scared me - dared me with their verbal sparring and intrinsic pride;

Then the door, it opened quietly, Redshift of recumbent piety,

"'Tis some visitor" - indeed, a friend and sometime wheeled guide.

In quest to seek heroic roadies from whom mortals cannot hide -

-- Cake Stop here I shall reside.

Gradually, 'spite fear retreated, hesitant I would stay seated,

Diffident towards the others, except the one who sits alongside.

Confidence I'd gain with meeting, acquaintance though appearing fleeting,

Riders busied with their eating, eating all would Clare provide.

To that end we tarried, chatting, equating our machines beside -

-- A Cake Stop curio implied.

Long I listened, growing obsessed, tales recounted; century conquest,

Sometimes venturing opinions - rarely shared and quite untried;

And at length although still learning, certain topics found returning

Certain stories held me yearning for the open road outside,

"Chronicles" enthralling all, the Authoress clearly in her stride,

-- The Cake Stop listens open-eyed.

Such adventures rife with action, heroes battling fuelled faction

Mighty foe of many number, set against one raven-eyed.

Armied and of worthy fight, her grip on evil ever tighter,

Petrolled pallor ever whiter: "Curse thy cycling fiends!" they cried

As the Priestess most revered, o'er the land she would preside

-- Thus was the Cake Stop story plied.

All at once the air, it altered, drink containers gripped and faltered,

Then were voices loud and craven - "Wasn't me!" Evil Chuffy tried,

The League of Gentlemen agreed with haste to confiscate his steed,

When in weighed Ronstrutt, the stampede halted, quick it would subside.

Presently an "Is red faster?" argument would soon divide,

-- Cake Stop opinion: opened wide.

All the while they sat debating while I pondered colours, waiting,

For so surely would the discourse vitiate itself I sighed,

"How may painting have such bearing?" said I, noting tempers flaring,

Chuffy resolute, declaring "Disbelief be cast aside."

Marching through the cafe door his countenance seemed almost snide,

-- No more would Cake Stop be defied.

For a moment the assembled cyclists stared, then slowly trembled

As intention dawned revealing -- dawned, the danger to who'd try;

For the Authoress allknowing of the changes undergoing

Standard time perception slowing of the speeding hero ride --

His velocity increased and rend'ring space and time untied,

-- Gone! The Cake Stop, mesmerised.

How the shifting shining portal seemed to access no mere mortal,

Vanishing an instant after, folding in itself inside,

Only one appeared unfeeling; other minds were brought to reeling --

Many more had started wheeling aimlessly, and some to hide --

"Be this scene a warning, let us hasten for the safe inside..."

-- "To the Cake Stop!" she applied.

"Danger is our friend doth chasing, this unstable reckless racing,

Relativity", said she, "will mean our time now we must bide."

There we waited, hours I reckoned, 'til a strange disturbance beckoned

Waiting not a single second more did certain members try

'scape the confines of the room, lest all be caught and certain fried,

-- Then did Cake Stop two wheels spy.

Slowly, as if quietly rending all of Nature's laws to bending,

Out of nothing came a shifting sense of bike and man and pride;

Soon I heard a frightful braking, felt the heat of Aztecs baking,

And the words: "Mine legs are aching!"; one more clue he would provide --

To that hastening emergence, black as soot his frame astride,

-- The Cake Stop door! Would he collide?

With the awful sound of smacking, "'tis but polystyrene cracking"

Thought I, turning round: the space of man and door did coincide;

Little left on ancient hinges, panelling reduced to fringes,

Chuffy rued his hamstring twinges, someone tending to his side,

But her ferret unbeknownst had slipped away, it seemed, to hide,

-- The Cake Stop too preoccupied.

No, the daring devious creature -- drawn to that unworldly feature,

In such sparkling twisting beauty was an awesome power belied.

For a moment, waried, stalling, curiosity drove him crawling

Instinct bent so on exploring, onwards, inwards through this eye.

Such investigating saw him find himself quite soon inside.

-- A Cake Stop voice just then outcried.

"Rosencrantz! My rash Putorius! 'Til thine end my overcurious

wretch!" wailed Kathy, racing over to the strange space-time divide;

Barely did the gateway's random form betray its grasp - her tandem,

Leaping back in fright did pandemonium break out in stride --

Holding fast her steed the portal closed abruptly just beside,

-- Cake Stop left with half her ride.

"Rosencrantz!" she wept, dejected, "Carelessly left unprotected!

To say nothing of my cycle: neatly rent in two!" she cried.

"Strength my lady." the Adonis offered; -- "Thou art surely honest

but that duty", Tim admonished, "'tis but mine alone!" he vied;

"Let us once adjourn, to that ambrosia surcease inside."

-- "To the Cake Stop!" she replied.

"What then" said I, "stays of forum? Thine peculiar decorum --

such intoxicating practice! Cast thy recklessness aside!

Let this day's unbridled lesson check thy coloured speed obsession!

Let there be no doubt or question! -- Leave such fancy at thy side!

Take thy steeds unto the road, and take thy stable ventures wide!"

-- To the Cake Stop: I decried.

And the Authoress, still is telling, Chronicles quite so compelling

That the audience unwav'ring eagerly awaits with pride.

And the kindred still inviting tales of audax, wheels and lighting,

And the Cafe still exciting those who'd perch on saddled hide;

And the legends of my searching certain to be found inside,

-- Cake Stop, there would all reside.

Becky T and cruise-cat.blogspot.com © 2009