It is apparent that within the "Biker" culture death holds a significant place. Every society proffers deep spiritual meaning to the end of life as we understand it. It seems that every civilization universally see’s the loss of their brothers and enemies as a mystery to be solved with sacrament, meditation and/or mysticism.  Look at the art of the Biker if you need visual evidence. Skulls, skeletons and images of an afterlife bedeck our bodies and our bikes. From heaven to hell and everywhere between lost bikers are depicted locked to their lifestyle or lost to it. As a reflection of those visions our literature reflects those fears and raptures morosely or with jubilation.

I mentioned in an earlier entry to this blog that I tend to direct my work toward the yarn, rather than a spill of passion to paper. I try to do this in a fashion that will spark emotion or otherwise cause the hair on the back of the neck to stand up a little. I don’t know that the following will do that for anyone, but in the process of constructing it I required a great deal of visualization. Is it about death? You betcha!

Life Ceded

By Wild Bill © 2009

A growl a tremor an impetus moves me

Caught in the motion of immediacy, traumatized by the glow; impeded.

What is this place of betrayal of chaos of solitude?

No feelings, no cold, no light, no dark. Rapt by fear trembling; life ceded.

Breath lost, weight gone, normalcy a fugitive, I quiver.

Gripped by cold hands; motion stolen. “Who takes me?” I demand.

“Who dares rip me from this dream?”

“Who arrests this audacious soul, what object usurps my command?

A light, nay shadow in shadow holds me cold

Calluses fixed to grip familiar steel no longer do I rule

Legs heated by her tender body no longer rest in my domain

Eyes prospect for another, an entity for whom this vessel is but a tool.

I don't know how other biker poets feel, but though the genre is growing, there remain darn few of us around. Now, with that said; biker poets usually write on other subjects more classic in nature. But when you mention Biker Poetry you always get a funny look. I know biker poets with doctorates, and master degrees and even their work when branded with the label will be subject to the proverbial "what the...?"

I say this to explain why I enjoy the interaction with other writers so very much.  Sharing thoughts and ideas is obviously the best way to connect; it is a method of networking that provides maturity for both me and others who I intermingle with. With every piece I read by another poet I learn. I see a different perspective, a new method of sharing the exhilaration of the motorcycle lifestyle.

There are a number of styles out there, many biker poets utilize multiple writing methods in various verses and to expose myself to the variety is a growth experience for me. Likewise I have been told that others have picked up a thing or two from my techniques, but the way that I actually studied the craft was the study of other more classic writers and genres, for example; cowboy poetry. When starting out as a writer it was the work of Baxter Black that most influenced my verse. Black is a cowboy poet. He is one of the few poets in the world that has actually managed to make a living doing what he loves to do, write about a lifestyle in poetic verse. He writes with wit and wisdom from a position of experience. His work along with Waddy Mitchell and many others stands out as uniquely American.

I could list a litany of poets out there that would have a positive impact on a writer. I would say though that cowboy poetry most defined my method. If you are to grow you must expose yourself to the writing of others. I would say that there are few if any biker poets out there that write as I do; the telling of a yarn. Most will share a feeling or emotion unique to motorcycling and that is fine. But if one is to grow, you must expose yourself to other forms of poetry. The sharing of emotion is very important when writing poetry but I would not limit myself to spilling out on paper how I feel. The idea is not always to express yourself, sometime’s it is to entertain or educate the reader. I believe that to fully grow, you must learn to do this on a number of levels using a variety of methods. In other words, try experimenting some time. Take someone else’s work, study it, learn from it and just try writing something as you think he or she would. The following is a piece I wrote some time ago with the thought in mind; what if Shakespeare had been a biker? What if he wrote about a biker falling into the hands of the Devil and that biker tried to strike a deal?  This is what I came up with:

What deed hidden in my passage has brought this rush to term?

My ill’s tally sundry, what iniquity did confirm judgment to this closing?

Tis’ my conviction this is err’ !

What debate might this soul offer compelling to compare?

My mission not acquired, a climax I must plead,

Do not strike my bonny life and lay my husk to bleed!

Oh fiend I beseech you hold not my spirit ransom

And you shall behold an unchaste mission hansom!

 Now for those of you who know Shakespeare’s work, you are probably saying “Well he sure wouldn’t have written that!” But that is not really the point. Frankly I am very happy with this piece and over the years many people have really gotten a kick out of it. It would never have been created had I not stepped outside of my comfort zone.  So, give it a try! Write something that you think another poet would write, you will grow in the process.

Poetry is usually a snapshot of emotion. I seldom write about such things, my work is typically from my imagination. Most of my best work is only a story conjured up for the rhyme. That takes a lot of effort. The material that comes easiest is that which I do not need to create. For example, my feelings on politics, a ride, family, work etc… The stuff that is the most satisfying however, is the yarn. Yes, the story that came out of my imagination. Spiders Broken Chain, The Drag, and everyone’s favorite, The Six Legged Moose are good examples. Could I sit down and knock something out? Oh yeah, no problem. Would it be great? Doubtful. I suppose I don’t want to write if it is mundane. This block though, well it really sucks. Perhaps any words are better than no words.

Wow! Where did the summer go? Seems like just a few weeks ago I was gazing upon tundra flowers, spectacular wildlife, and the dusty roads of the North Slope of Alaska…. Then again, come to think of it, I was. When the weather on the slope changes it changes fast. I was last on the slope for a three week tour of duty. When I arrived there were ducks and swans on every pond. By the time I boarded my plane south, the landscape was a winter wonderland. Snow covered the grassy plain and the very ponds that only weeks before sported a new generation of waterfowl, were again iced over. In a three week period we went from what appeared to be sunny summer day’s too blowing, drifting snow with temperatures in the teens. It was a good time to head south, so I did.

Over the last few days I’ve been in Florida, and man, what a jam-packed few days it has been! On Saturday Terri, Bob and I joined a couple of new friends and headed for Daytona where we found Biketoberfest to be in full swing! Motorcycles of every shape and size were on display. We sat down just off Main Street for a well deserved coffee and watched everything from a giant trike with a V-8 to a tiny miniature chopper, to a rolling hamburger pass along in the perpetual parade that is Biketoberfest. The weather was sunny, mild and inviting. Gone was the heat of earlier visits as even Florida succumbs to the change in season. After a trip down Main Street we hit the River Walk, and then stopped over at Rossmeyers Destination Daytona before heading north to Lake City. We stopped along the way at a little Italian Restaurant chowing down before the 100 plus mile ride back. Exiting with full stomachs we soon realized the ride back would be made on back-roads, in the dark, sharing the road with armadillos, dear and the occasional drunk driver. The night was black and cold, but the trip was worth it. By the time we got to the house we were tired from the stress that comes from worry. It was good to roll into the garage.

Sunday Bob and I drove into Jacksonville and attended the NFL game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and St. Louise Rams. The contest went into overtime with an ultimate victory by the home town team. It was a great day and marked the first time I have ever attended an NFL game. If you have yet to experience a stadium with somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 thousand people all screaming at the same time, well I do recommend that you jump at the chance if the opportunity presents itself.

Yesterday most of the stumps in our yard were ground down to sawdust and what had been a giant pile of limbs and brush was reduced to mostly embers.  The yard is finally beginning to come together. Stump grinding is about the easiest and least expensive way I know of to clear a yard of the leftovers that dot the landscape after clearing a number of trees. Once cleared grass begins to fill in and soon the yard looks like… well, a yard.

Well the temperature is expected to be in the 60’s and 70’s today, so I think I will take advantage of the mild weather and do some work outside or ride… hmmm.

I’ve been in Kuparuk about ten days now and have noticed some major changes in this short time. When I arrived there were geese and ducks on every pond. The weather still felt warm and the place had the feel of summer. Then one day I drove out to the field and noticed only a few geese and ducks. It felt a little cooler and you could feel a change in the air. Today I spotted three ducks, no geese at all and Swans were everywhere. The Swans are the last to leave. I suspect it is because their young are so much larger. They are the last to develop flight feathers. Nearly all of the water fowl that fly south have done so. Kuparuk was a little less colorful today.

On the lighter side though, this has been a good week for wildlife. Aside from the usual caribou, a wolf ran right in front of me the other evening. The rather lanky yet muscular animal stopped on the side of the road and just stared at me. Large, grey and bushy it watched from a safe distance always the cagy one and eventually turned and loped away. A couple of days later I encountered a small group of Muskoxen feeding just off one of the drill sites. There were three adults and one youngster. As my truck approached, the little one ran to the side of its mother staying close to the giant, furry beast. I came across the same group two days later miles away.

For a few days it rained. It was a cold rain, the kind that every Alaskan knows. In the fall we always have rain, days and days of the cold icy stuff. This was that kind of rain, bitter cold with the threat of snow. Today however I awoke to clearer skies and sunshine. This evening after the sun descended the northern sky held a treat for anyone willing to look up. The Northern Lights, also known as the “Aurora” painted the night from horizon to horizon. It was a good shift.

In four wakeups I head home to Wasilla. Terri will be joining me there and we’ll spend some time home for a change. It’ll be good to see the kids and visit some of our usual haunts. One of the top things on my list is a pizza at Evangelos. We’re also visiting the Alaska State Fair in Palmer.

Now I gotta tell ‘ya, the Alaska Fair may not be the biggest, but I think it is the best. You see a fair is supposed to be a “local” thing. You know, seeing the neighbors’ children in Four-H proudly showing off the damn rooster that wakes you up at O-Dark Thirty. I always take a walk through the animal pavilion and invariably will see some folks I know.  You are also likely to run into friends along the midway. There are always politicians from all sides of the spectrum inviting others to join their cause and “As Seen on TV,” the famous “Sham Wow” is hawked by one of Vince’s twin brothers from inside his booth while the aroma or turkey legs waft through the venue. Yea, I’m looking forward to it.

The summer will have come to a close by the time I return in a couple of weeks. It is unlikely that even the swans will remain, but that marks the end of another life cycle. The arctic fox will grow their lovely white fur, the snow will return and soon after the ponds and yes, even the ocean itself will freeze solid as the arctic returns to winters icy grip. As for me, well I think I will join the birds, I to will fly south.

Summer is just speeding by on the North Slope as the wildlife new this spring grow to adulthood. Young geese and ducks will soon develop their flight feathers and stretch their wings to join their fellows on the migration south. No longer on shaky legs, Caribou calves leap across the tundra with added speed as they grow and young fox now out of their burros are learning the lessons of the north as they begin to hunt on their own. It's an exciting time and life is everywhere, much or it looking to eat the other. We have seen a lot of polar bears as or late with several sightings near the coast and this year we have seen a number of grizzly bears throughout the field. I spotted a seal hanging out at Oliktok point the other morning. His little head bobbed in the waves as he kept watch from a safe vantage point just off the breakwater. It was a great tour but I was glad to be off work when the time came. I was reminded that I neglected this Blog and my website over the last couple of weeks so I rectified that by posting some Biker poetry by Betsy E. Lister aka “Gypsypashn.”  You will find her work here. Also this being my first entry in the month of August I would be remiss in failing to mention that it is “Biker Poetry Month.” Readings are scheduled throughout the northeast and other areas to commemorate the event as we see the best riding days of the season. Speaking of such things… I think I will go for a putt. Later.

All good things must end and so it is with my time off. I’ve enjoyed a four week break from work, basking in the hot summer sun of Northern Florida, swimming in the Atlantic, visiting the Zoo, riding my motorcycle and getting a few things done around the house. I cut the grass, we got the roof repaired, and a number of little things that needed attention such as some plaster work and a swap out of a lighting fixture now rest comfortably behind us. One of the more important missions I was able to successfully accomplish was locating a source for soft ice-cream. It’s just a few miles away, maybe ten or so making it an excellent little destination ride on the motorcycle on a hot afternoon. Today a fine young gentleman is burning brush in the back yard thus eliminating what I am sure has developed into a rather prolific snake pit. I now have my haircut and am only in need of a shave. My beard has grown out nicely over the last several weeks, longer than I have seen it in three years. It feels good actually. On many occasions I have reflected on how happy I was to return to work but this is not one of those times.  I think I could retire at any time if the finances allowed, but that is not to be... yet.

This is my last day here. Tomorrow I fly back home to Alaska and work. I’ll do two weeks this tour, return to Florida for a couple then back up to Alaska for six. I will be spending my September break in Wasilla. Terri will join me around Labor Day weekend for Ryan’s marriage to Jen. Yes, Ryan our middle son will be married soon.  The timing is good as we will be able to visit the Alaska State Fair together. It’s hard to believe I am already thinking about fall. Seems the summer only just got started and fall is right around the corner. Of course it doesn’t hold the ominous foreboding as past falls. The weather in Florida while chilly will not produce snow and will actually allow me to ride pretty much throughout the winter months.

Lake City is proverbial “small town America.” Kids can still go to a barber for a haircut, you are likely to run into someone you know at the grocery store and there is a church on every street corner.  It’s been wonderful. Florida has more cattle per square mile than the state of Texas. That means there are a lot of beautiful fields with lush green windrows. The scenery here is comforting. Numerous two lane blacktop ribbons crisscross from county to county crossing bridges and passing old farm houses, many nested beneath old oak trees providing a canopy of cool air as you dash from shadow to shadow. The drawback is of course the blessing. It can get so hot that any work outdoors can quickly lead to heat stroke. That is a problem I will not face for long. Kuparuk is not known for its searing heat. One thing is for sure though; I don’t feel like going back to work. The time at home in Wasilla though, that I look forward to.