Pavement Piffle

 

I ride with a wiggle, I ride with a wobble,
Not in a rush and not out for trouble.
I slow, I swerve, I give people room,
I’m courteous, careful — yet BANG! comes the gloom.

“Get off the pavement!” they huff and they puff,
Their scolding is silly, their scolding is gruff.
But the road is a rattle, a rumble, a roar,
With potholes and door-traps and cars by the score.

The pavement is empty, it’s quiet, it’s wide,
No harm in a bicycle gliding beside.
Sometimes a sign even says, “Share the lane!”
But still they complain, complain, complain.

Why can’t they just let me pedal in peace?
No race, no racket, no need for police.
Live and let live, I mutter and grieve,
Oh why can’t they let me just roll and just leave?