Uncle Fred's Motorbike

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“It’s a death trap that thing” my auntie said

“and for 8 months a year it sits in the shed”.

“It’s something I grew up with, something I like”

said my uncle Fred who’d never part with his bike.

When there’s no cloud and the weather is still

uncle Fred wheels out his Bonneville.

Every nut and bolt tells a story

About life on a bike in four stroke glory.

People used to comment on the leathers he was sporting

And my auntie was impressed when they were courting.

He said “A ’59 Bonneville will get you far”

But she said her last boyfriend had a bike and a car.

It got them to parties and village hall dances

Better than later models with technological advances

Always reliable, always a breeze

And better than anything Japanese.

But when the kids came along the writing was on the wall

And they were soon the owners of a secondhand Vauxhall

With only him working, they weren’t made of money

But they could afford the Vauxhall without selling the Bonney.

Out on the open road, move through the gears

Seems like a metaphor for the passing of years

Time goes so quickly without you knowing

And all the time the family is growing.

He always wanted to keep the bike and I am glad that he did

Especially now it’s worth a few quid

He said “The kids will probably sell it after I am dead

But while I am alive it’s staying in that shed”.