Soper Beach Riding 1925 Poem by Terry Collett

California 1925
and it was Soper
who was in the sidecar
of the motorbike
and his dark haired
wife Sophie
who was
beside the bike
getting ready
to ride it.

I want to ride
on the deserted beach
she said.

He was in
his black swim suit.

She in that
swimming costume
black with white stripes.

The beach is
empty of people
she said.

He looked at her
guess you can
no harm can be done
he said
looking out
at the sea
on the long stretch
of beach
yellow sands
making sure
he could see
no boulders anywhere.

She put her
25 year old leg
over the bike
and started it up.

He held on tight
to both sides
of the sidecar.

She looked
ahead of her.

Keep your eyes squinted
he said
in case you get
sand in them.

She nodded
and smiled.

He closed his eyes
he knew
when he met her
she was kind of wild.