Verbal Description
A portrait image
An in focus black bicycle seat occupies the foreground of the photo. It points upward, an identical but out of focus seat just behind it in the top right corner of the image. The front seat sits on two rusted, spring coils, one coil in the bottom left corner, the other slightly higher and to the right of center. Stitching is evident along the back and right edges of the leather seat. The back end is angled slightly and stretches the entire width of the photo. A thin metal label is attached to the center of the back end like a license plate, two circular bolts on either end. The label has two lines of text– the top line slightly larger than the bottom. They read: “SCHWINN” and then “APPROVED.” A narrow reflection of light shines on the right side of the seat crowning the coil’s parade of light and shadow below.
The background contains many blurred shapes and colors. On the left, and through the bottom left corner, fuzzy green grass punctuated with an indiscernible white dot in the top left corner, suggesting a reflection of sun on metal. Blurred red bars parallel the right edge interrupted by the leather seats. Along the bottom, shadows confuse the other metal parts of the bike as they form semi-vertical lines underneath the seat.
A fuzzy label is centered on the back of the second seat—its text invisibly smeared into the metal’s glare. A second display of coiled light and shadow blend into the blush red of the bicycle frame curving into the right side of the photo.
“The spiritual journey,
For me,”
I used to tease,
“Is like riding on the back of a tandem bicycle.
I’m not in charge.
I just hold on and pedal.”
Then I did a double take.
It seems this wild journey
Is only about holding on
Until you discover the bliss
Of letting go.
