DEVIL WIND

We'd planned a neat trike ride for fun today,
But now it's very clear that we should stay
Inside where HEPA filters clean the air.
Someone may call us wimps but I don't care.

The wind outside's a preview straight from Hell,
A devil wind that we know all too well,
Propelling tumbleweeds and clouds of dust,
And shredding palms and trees with each strong gust.
A haze of smoke and ashes taint the sky;
The acrid smell tells us exactly why.

Somewhere upwind this storm is fanning flames,
The second of this season given names,
Creating chaos, causing stress and strife,
A rage consuming every form of life,
Destroying homes and structures, farms and cars,
And leaving landscapes less like Earth's than Mars'.

Great riding weather virtually all year
Has truly spoiled each trikey living here.
We'll wait until this dreadful fire's suppressed,
A day or two or three until we're blessed
With cool, clear air for every breath we take,
As Mother Nature forces this short break.

Strong winds, mudslides and earthquakes are the woes,
The compromise each one that lives here knows.
Though heavy fog sometimes obscures bike lanes
And we postpone our rides for Winter rains,
Snow flurries, hail and ice are very rare,
And we have ample riding days to spare.

No hurricanes, tornadoes, muggy heat,
No swarms of bugs, no blizzards and no sleet
Has ever made us cancel riding plans.
Our wish for all non-local triking fans
Is that each ride you schedule through next year
Gets Mother Nature's 'Two Thumbs Up; All Clear!'

POW Index
by Wayne
December 2024