The puncture in my heart
has been slow to mend.
What the bumpy road tore apart
is melding slowly, patched
and glued together.
It will take more than all my years
to remount the bicycle of life,
pump the pedals faster, blow fears
away with breeze through hair
and gasp of stuttering breath,
to repair my shaken heart and bones
long after your death.
Kim M. Russell, 26th September 2019
My response to dVerse Poets Pub Meet the Bar – Metaphorically Speaking
Björn is our host for Meeting the Bar this week, and we’re revisiting the metaphor. He begins by explaining the difference between metaphors and similes and goes on to discuss the importance of metaphors being new and unique in order to avoid repeating well-known clichés or stealing someone else’s, with an example from Emily Dickinson.
He also reminds us that metaphors are best used to express abstract concepts such as emotions, or describe someone’s character, and that it helps to make the metaphor exact and precise, with an extract from a Pablo Neruda poem.
Björn asks us to invent new metaphors, combine them, and try to surprise.
writing in north norfolk 
This is unique, with all the images building up an extended metaphor, of the sorrow from a death.
You should check out the poem by Tomas Tranströmer…. https://poets.org/poem/after-death
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Thank you, Bjorn. I’ll check out the Tomas Transtromer poem before I read and comment.
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At one point I thought about using it as an example of metaphors.
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Wow!
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I like an extended metaphor, and this is really well done. What a great image.
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Thank you, Sarah!
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Whilst it is heartbreaking it is a wonderful metaphor and my sister who is a very mad cyclist would appreciate your choice of metaphor. All that melding and patched with glue but I am beginning to accept that we are as worthy melded as we were when we were shiny and new.
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Thank you, Alison. I am learning to accept that too. 🙂
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Beautiful poem of remembrance and the thought of remounting the bicycle.
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Thanks Frank!
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You rocked the socks off the prompt, effective, clever metaphor with twist at the end; nice job.
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Cheers Glenn!
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Masterful metaphoring!
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Thank you, Bev!
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“It will take more than all my years
to remount the bicycle of life,” while heartbreaking, is both abstract and down to earth.
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Thanks Ken.
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I love how you wove this together, Kim, under the bicycle metaphor.
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Thank you, Jade.
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You’re welcome.
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Excellent! The extended metaphor is masterful. So much wisdom in this.
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Thank you, Toni!
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Love the bicycle of life Kim. The grief underlies your post, blasting it by your ending lines.
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Thank you, Grace.
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This is a tender, bittersweet piece Kim.
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Thank you, Rob.
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Clever use of metaphors!
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Thanks Misky!
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Truly wonderful use of metaphors Kim. Very touching 🙂💕
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Thank you, Christine. 🙂
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That bicycle of life in the picture looks just like the one you describe in you poem. It has been through a lot!! Well done.
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Thanks Dwight!
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Really wonderful metaphor … I thought of a bicycle built for two but the sting of the final couplet really cuts.
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Thank you, Phillip.
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“Bicycle of life” is so apt. It reflects the effort it will take to move on.
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Thank you, Fatima.
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A stunning use of metaphors Kim.
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😊
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One of the simplest and truest metaphors for those things we must ride and trust en route to a happy heart. Ain’t easy getting back up on vehicle and relationship which demands faith. Well drawn Kim, you get to the point right off, make your case, and ease off again with neat closing rhyme.
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Thank you, Brendan.
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Very moving poem, Kim, and beautifully crafted…love the bike metaphor. JIM
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Thank you, Jim.
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Fun metaphor, but very sad story.
(Sorry, I’m a bit late in reviewing this challenge)
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Thank you, Sabio.
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