Grex Cars Conference

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Grex Cars Item 102: Poetry and Motion, or Biking in the Rain
Entered by keesan on Tue Jan 20 19:13:23 UTC 1998:

Micheal Delizia, in the Writing Conference, Item #83, Five Tercets and a
Quatrain, contributed a villanelle (a formal verse form), on searching for
a parked car.  I have asked him to compose one on biking in the rain.  Please
contribute ideas on what problems may be encountered in this activity.

6 responses total.

#1 of 6 by n8nxf on Wed Jan 21 13:14:44 1998:

Getting as wet under your rain coat from sweat as you would have without
the rain coat.
 
Eating the spray from the cyclist in front of you if you follow too
close.  (The spray can containing wonderful things like squished critter
parts.  On DALMAC this year, I passed one guy in the rain who had
some squished frog stuck to his rain-wear.  However worm parts are
more common.)

Not having wipers on your glasses.  At times I can see better with my
glasses tucked into my pocket.

Without fenders you also spray yourself.  Getting slowly soaked from your
butt up is a wonderful sensation.  As is getting your shoes filled
with water and etc.

#2 of 6 by keesan on Wed Jan 21 15:13:37 1998:

The above all seems very familiar.
Michael has already composed a villanelle in tetrameter.  Ungrateful as I am,
now I have asked for one in iambic pentameter on the lines:
I don't like biking in the pouring rain,
My hands are numb, my saddle's soaking wet.

Extra credit will be given for all complaints submitted in iambic pentameter
and rhyming with rain (hurricane, explain, refrain, chilblain...) or wet
(rivulet, epithet, tourniquet, yet...).  Or in the form of complete verses.

Again, see Writing Item #83 for the poetry.

#3 of 6 by n8nxf on Fri Jan 23 13:33:45 1998:

A friend and I were riding south of Ann Arbor one spring when a thunder
storm pulled up over us.  Having been in the close proximity of a
lightning strike before, we decided to wait it out in a nearby ditch.
Fortunately it passed quickly such that we could escape the torrent of
of manure laden water from the field just behind us.

I love being out in inclement weather.  It's more interesting, more
fun.

#4 of 6 by keesan on Mon Jan 26 15:39:35 1998:

A poem on biking in the rain, by Michael Delizia, from Writing #83:
#13 Michael Delizia(md) on Tue Jan 20 20:02:11 1998:
 You're right, the two lines you gave didn't leave much room.  The
 rhymes on "fog" are particularly embarrassing.  But here it is, 
 anyway, not so much "abandoned in despair" as gingerly dropped 
 somewhere where no one will see it.  Did I mention, I charge $50/line?
 
 
 I don't like biking in the rain.
 My hands get cold, my glasses fog.
 Why I do it I can't explain.
 
 I think that I must be insane
 To bike instead of walk or jog.
 I don't like biking in the rain.
 
 Brimming is every sewer drain;
 Through lakes of boiling mud I slog.
 Why I do it I can't explain.
 
 All day I pedal and complain
 Like some pajama'd taxi wog.
 I don't like biking in the rain
 
 And here's my turn, down Rustic Lane,
 As sodden weeds my chain enclog.
 Why I do it I can't explain.
 
 And here's the house of Buxom Jane.
 I rest my bike against a log.
 I don't like biking in the rain.
 Why I do it I can't explain.

#5 of 6 by keesan on Mon Jan 26 15:43:35 1998:

And here is the original villanelle, on parking:
Item #83 entered by Michael Delizia(md) on Wed Jul 27 09:49:34 1994
 Five tercets and a quatrain

 
      Having forgotten where I parked my car
      Only an hour ago, and lost my way,
      I double back.  It can't be very far.
 
      I know that girl.  I met her in a bar
      Once, but I don't have time for her today,
      Having forgotten where I parked my car.
 
      Excuse me, sir, I don't know who you are,
      And no, I don't have any spare change.  May
      I double back?  It can't be very far.
 
      Although I really love my new Jaguar,
      I do so wish I owned that Chevrolet,
      Having forgotten where I parked my car.
 
      Some day I might attend a seminar
      About which laws a man need not obey.
      I double back.  It can't be very far.
 
      Of tedium this is the sixth instar,
      The sixth and last ecdysis of dismay.
      Having forgotten where I parked my car,
      I double back.  It can't be very far.

#6 of 6 by keesan on Wed Mar 11 01:27:40 1998:

I was told that Jim (J Deigert) got his picture taken and he is in today's
A2 News, biking around in a yellow slicker.  It may have been raining.

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