Cycling Mob Cycling Forums - View Single Post - Remembering the poetry of erstwhile poster Van Bagnol

01-06-2007, 10:34 PM

In article <1168031808.015791.285570@42g2000cwt.googlegroups. com>,
limeylew@gmail.com writes:
>
> Claire Petersky wrote:
>> The chain was a ribbon of rivets, slick as an owl's snot,
>> The bulb was a ghostly halogen, its filament glowing hot,
>> The road was a sinew of darkness, but my light was steady and bright.
>> My frame was the color of egg yolk,
>> The moonlight glint from my wheel spoke
>> As I savored the spin of my pedal stroke, into the jeweled night
>>
>> --
>> Warm Regards,
>>
>> Claire Petersky
>> http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/
>> See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky
>
> I have to wonder how that person developed an intimate familiarity with
> the snot of an owl?

By riding a lot at night.

As a matter of fact, during my last ride into work I
had an owl swoop across my line right in front of me,
to pick up a big rat or muskrat or something. It was
really quite an elegant manoeuver. I guess the owl
wanted to get his prey before my approach scared it off.

Up in our local Western Cordillera mountains, one can
sometimes see a tree whose grain is obviously twisted
around like a twirled wet dishcloth. That's the work
of the Ratchet Owl[*]. They grasp the top of the tree
in their beak, and fly around in tight little circles
until the tree is irrecoverably mangled.

To stew an owl, one must immerse it in water in a large
cast iron Dutch oven along with a large rock, and boil
the heck out of it. When you can easily stick a fork
into the rock, the owl is done.

cheers,
Tom
[*] I can also tell you about the side-hill gouger[**],
if you like.

[**] A six-legged mammal.

--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

01-06-2007, 10:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
Tom Keats Posts: n/a	Re: Remembering the poetry of erstwhile poster Van Bagnol In article <1168031808.015791.285570@42g2000cwt.googlegroups. com>, limeylew@gmail.com writes: > > Claire Petersky wrote: >> The chain was a ribbon of rivets, slick as an owl's snot, >> The bulb was a ghostly halogen, its filament glowing hot, >> The road was a sinew of darkness, but my light was steady and bright. >> My frame was the color of egg yolk, >> The moonlight glint from my wheel spoke >> As I savored the spin of my pedal stroke, into the jeweled night >> >> -- >> Warm Regards, >> >> Claire Petersky >> http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/ >> See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky > > I have to wonder how that person developed an intimate familiarity with > the snot of an owl? By riding a lot at night. As a matter of fact, during my last ride into work I had an owl swoop across my line right in front of me, to pick up a big rat or muskrat or something. It was really quite an elegant manoeuver. I guess the owl wanted to get his prey before my approach scared it off. Up in our local Western Cordillera mountains, one can sometimes see a tree whose grain is obviously twisted around like a twirled wet dishcloth. That's the work of the Ratchet Owl[]. They grasp the top of the tree in their beak, and fly around in tight little circles until the tree is irrecoverably mangled. To stew an owl, one must immerse it in water in a large cast iron Dutch oven along with a large rock, and boil the heck out of it. When you can easily stick a fork into the rock, the owl is done. cheers, Tom [] I can also tell you about the side-hill gouger[], if you like. [] A six-legged mammal. -- Nothing is safe from me. Above address is just a spam midden. I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca