The Rider Poem by William Kofoed

I enter in a large white room
high is the ceiling
straight are the walls
round are the corners
door lies across on the other side

in the center I see
a large black hat
square in shape
drooping it is
upon the head
of very thin man

a guitar in a case
liesacross to his back
a long wooden bow
across to his front
a single long black arrow
with long black ribbon fetching

he reclines upon skeletal chopped bike
black is its color without any chrome
resting on its side stand
tilts to the left

seeing him I circle the room
going counterclockwise about
following the wall around
the door on the other side

passing him as he
straightens up and starts his bike
begins to go backwards
clockwise around the room

as I entered the doorway
into a hall that spirals down
his black arrow passes under right ear
continuing on and strikes wall

turning counterclockwise
I spiral on down
close to the wall
continuing on down

he follows me down
turning clockwise coming on
and with every turn
the long black arrow
passes under my right ear
ribbon fletching fluttering behind

Spiraling down we go
turn after turn continuing
I going forward
as he follows me down
and with every turn
the arrow comes again

as I downward go
my counter clockwise turns
stop on a landing
cannot go on

he following to me after
in his clockwise turns
continuing backwards
his arrow still flies
continues on down
no landing for him


upon the landing I sit
watching him continue by
going continuing down

hearing a voice say
I must turn and go the other way
if not to continue down
if I would go up