DILLIGAF

Cage free

I've always preferred the late night rides,
Knowing full well there's hidden dangers,
I'm sure that's part of the thrill for me,
That need to walk the edge of a blade,
Then there's the fact of fewer cages at night,
Less worry of the whole I didn't see him saga,
Still eyes focused in front and side to side,
Unseen danger could and would jump into sight,
Tuned into the ride, nature and my thoughts,
The darkness of a moonlit two lane backroads,
The quietness can be overwhelming and welcoming,
Words echoing in my mind from brothers that are gone,
Wisdom from the old ones to memories of rides in the past,
Those night rides are easy for me to get lost,
Away from the chaos, the hustle of life itself,
There's times songs play over and over again in my head,
Other times it's the deafening silence that comforts me,
The smells are different, crisper without all the cages,
From the pines to the sweet grass and the late night chill,
Every twist in the road is more exciting to me,
Be it the mountains the valleys the badlands or desert,
Night rides suit me best for many reasons,
It's an excitement that I've only found in the am hours...

When it comes down to it any day on two wheels is another beautiful day but I'd never trade the peace I've found in the midnight hours for the sunshine and cager filled highways.

Chief 7/10/05

Apparitions

Throughout my life I've been blessed by some older souls,
People I've known solely because of two wheels,
They're not the type you'll meet walking down a busy street,
They're wanderers, vagabonds, the outcast from society,
They kept to themselves and never sought recognition,
Each one embraced the obscurity two wheels can provide,
Each one had wisdom they often spoke to me,
About life the road and some on a personal level,
Each one an artistic being that I could relate too,
From their pieced together rides to their weathered clothes,
You could see the years etched upon their skin,
To the deepness in their eyes that spoke louder than words,
Even when they did speak it wasn't wasted words,
No small talk no religion no politics no bs,
Every word came from personal experience,
From war to addiction and way too many losses,
And when they spoke of brothers and friendship,
The smiles and light in their eyes touched my soul,
Kindred spirits is how I seen every one of them,
These are the ones I felt connected with in every way...

I've known from a very young age that without these two wheels I would have never met any of them.
So to say I'm blessed is an understatement but for the lack of words that's what I'll stick with.
I know as time goes on the wanderers the vagabonds and outcast become less and less.
Road tramps two wheeled gypsies are slowly becoming apparitions of the wind.

Chief 7/10/01

Venerate

Can you hear the thunder,
Feel it in your chest,
A serpent of steel,
Weaving in and out,
Down that asphalt path,
How it must appear,
Speeding past the observers,
25,50,75 strong,
Side by side,
From the first to the last,
A parade of colors,
Glimmers of chrome,
Different shades of men,
Denim and leather bound,
A taste of freedom,
Which few have known,
Echoes of that v-twin song,
Here today tomorrow gone,
Like days of past,
When warriors roamed,
Where the sword ruled,
Crowds roared,
At the spectacle of it all,
Painted steeds
Rollin down those back roads,
Adventure seekers,
Risk takers,
Heathens, misfits & outlaws,
Men tested in flames,
Battle born,
Hardened with time,
A different breed,
Cut from a different cloth,
Each one not quite the same,
To the average they appear lost,
They can't see the freedom,
The need to be unchained,
A group of wayward souls,
A band of brothers,
That can't be broken,
Here in this world or the next,
Respect is earned,
Loyalty is returned,
So they ride,
To honor those long gone...

Chief 7/19/01

Seeking...

I've gotten lost in the smoke and flames,
Wandered through memories amongst the stars,
Ridin with ghost on those old two lanes,
Found myself on top of a steed of steel and chrome,
I've let the throttle taste my rage and pain,
Listened to that v-twin sing of better days,
Thunder screaming from her pipes of chrome,
Echoing the struggles I lost in my rear view mirror,
I've been all alone in a room full of people,
Sat at tables filled with strangers that felt like family,
Two wheels have carried me to places unknown,
Yet those places felt like a long lost home,
I've waited out the storms with nothing to prove,
Watched life pass mile marker after mile marker,
Shared a campfire with wandering spirits the same,
Partaken in the lost art of minding my own,
Listened to the sad songs of the broken hearted,
Seen firsthand the kindness no one talks about,
Out here where the rubber meets the old roads,
Where two wheels and a smile can start a conversation,
Been abnormal my whole life and often shunned,
But out here there is no normal and no need to belong,
Just a simple desire and a v-twin vision of freedom...

The wayward life isn't for everyone,
Different places and different faces,
Where everything changes day to day,
The great unknown is the destination i seek.

Chief 7/18/03

Still rollin

I've been ridin these old roads for so long,
There's times I get lost like I'm ridin in space,
Away and beyond any and everything,
But that's just my mind and my desire,

Different places and different campfires.
Same machine same leathers same old me,
A little older a little sorer a little more tired,
New sunsets same old stars these wheels keep rollin on,

Whiskey river...in the bottle,
Too much time for me to think,
Whiskey river...in the bottle,
Wontcha flow right into me,

I can't deny the rush from chasin that white line,
Me and those wheels spin right out of control,
Lookin to get lost and that's what I've always found,
Just a twist of that wrist and I'm rollin down that line,

Different states filled with strange faces,
Gettin to where I don't even recognize my reflection,
A little thinner a little older weather worn,
Ridin that white line wideopen straight to hell,

Co***ne train...ridin those rails,
Another line for me to chase,
Co***ne train...ridin those rails,
Poundin one more spike,

Been out here for ever or so it seems,
Same old machine a whole different me,
I've learned a thing or two chasin different lines,
Me and those chrome rims keep rollin on,

Whiskey river...done run dry,
Plugged the jug one last time,
Co***ne train...made its last stop,
Ridin those rails ain't the same,

Whiskey river...cocaine train,
Livin that life damn near killed the best of me,
Yet here I am on this old blacktop,
Twistin my wrist like there ain't no tomorrow,
Ridin those highs avoidin those lows,
No more crazy train no more swimmin in the bottle...

Chief 10/17/03