Nellie Has A Pretty Dress, But Virginia Has Class Poem by Nat Z. Punx

people still come over
sometimes
not too often
but they will see nellie
then ooh and ahh over
the most common things
they never mention
or perceive
her stretch
but they all love her paint
skulls layered
in red and black
it's hard to explain the design
very cool paint
skulls
non riders always like the skulls
they equate bikes
with some hokey death wish
they mean something on nellie
like her new bones
or screws in the leg
of her rider
those two
have caught a glimpse
then if they see virginia
they ask what kind is it?
'the same'
what year is it?
'a year older'
is it smaller?
'just set up different,
it's the same bike'
they always look puzzled
almost always
nellie has apehangers
long uprising bars
and lots of chrome
big rounded art deco tanks
lots of flash
virginia looks like.
something much different
very little chrome
smaller tanks
same style
smaller suspension
flat stubby bars
utilitarian
no frills
they usually tell me mine is cool too
but they really like the red one
now it is 2 am
and im tired of thinking
about bikes
people's weakness
for the flash
blinds you almost every time
she will be like virginia
quiet
subversive undergound smile
far from drawing a crowd
beautiful
and beautifully hidden
from all eyes
save mine