JOEY AWAKE NOW

Some poems,
right some poems.

I’m a lover of poems.
And yes, we lovers of poems

must stick together. Don’t mind me. Pardon? Glenn?
Glenn? Glenn. It is nice to meet you, Glenn.

You are thinking you are in luck.
Because look,

a strange old man has joined you at the bar.
How fortunate you are

this fine day. I beg your pardon? Indeed.
The secret’s out. I am indeed

a man with English, how do you say Raul, issues,
exactly, English issues.

No, not for fifty years.
Hoboken Italian now for fifty years.

I’m English when there are wars.
I was English when there were wars.

Oh no you don’t have to pretend
you give a damn. You came here to write, my friend,

then a sleepy old fool comes dropping by to tell you
what it was like in his day. Well I’ll tell you:

I was extremely handsome. It took me
seconds to go to the bathroom. End of story.

Raul, the same for him and the same for me,
he’s being much too polite. English, you see,

not like us. I’d have said Bugger off
by now. Raul doesn’t get that, ‘bugger off’

he thinks it’s some kind of cool
new vodka, don’t you, Raul?

Raul says he understands,
he understands

bugger off
it’s what I was afraid of,

no secrets now, no secrets
for the Brits,

not from Americans
Glenn, no secrets from Americans.

The war?
Ah-ha.

Look at him, pen at the ready, like I could say
some poetry. We lovers of poetry.

What’s so important in the world that you can’t
stop the ride a moment,

open a little black
empty book

and remind the world you’re blue? There’s not a thing.
Burning building? Nothing.

Love of a lady?
‘I am at work. Please ask her to wait in the lobby.’

His eyes are glazing over, he’s remembering
something he’s forgetting

something. If you ask me, to tell you,
Glenn, if you’re sincerely truly going to,

I may
do so. I may

tell you a thing or two, I wouldn’t do so,
I wouldn’t—muchas gracias—I wouldn’t do so,

only it’s Saturday.
Not Saturday,

Black Saturday.
And in sixty years of rinso white Saturdays

it never did find
one to hide behind.

You go through morning into afternoon
and it’s always sunny, Saturday, in rain

or snow or storm who cares?
you pass the hours,

you’re free and the crowd is free and the whistle blows
a goal is scored, the long shot by a nose

then you happen to glance at the sky
and I say you I mean I . . .

I say you I mean I, me
riding on my bike and I

saw this mass of planes
in patterns they were their planes

and with the sky so thick
the light was weak, your hold on it was weak

your life so far
some kind of lucky break. They were everywhere

and in the day,
not in the night in the day like your worst fear suddenly

figured it out and came.
What’s stopping us? I rode my bike straight home

to tell my gran and I’m pedalling for my life
I know they can see me up there! Hey Ralf

shoot zat paper boy or he’ll never stop!
Never stop

telling ze vorld on us . . .
Raul’s laughing at me. You’re not? That’s how it was.

Personal, kind of. Felt you were in their minds.
They were in our minds,

pale types, munching schnitzel! Here
well it’s true they had thejaps but not here,

they didn’t have them out of a blue sky
over the skyline on a Saturday.

September 7th. What do you mean it’s the 8th?
The Saturday was the 7th, it wasn’t the 8th.

He’s telling me. Where do you come from? Pardon?
Say again what garden? Well-in-the-Garden?

Oh there.
Shredded Wheat’s made there.

That was the sort of place we thought we’d get to.
Because we had to get to

somewhere, we were bombed out
on the first night of the thing. Or, we weren’t bombed out

precisely, me and my gran,
she always believed what I told her, did my gran,

Mrs Katherine Mabel Stone.
Truth of the matter is, I had my own

reason for getting out.
It isn’t a thing you know when it’s happening. But

you’re young,
you’re wearing a wedding ring,

we figure it out in time.
You’ll understand how it was if you give a damn.

And if you don’t give a damn it’ll still be there
a year or so anywhere

you find me. Soon I won’t be giving one either.
Then you and I can give not a damn forever.

  — Glyn Maxwell (b. 1962), English poet.

Our first (and only) double weekend this year … Rocky Mountain Raceway, which will be hosting Saturday’s race, has generally been a fast roadie course due to the amount of pavement, but the past couple of years have seen a big run-up thrown in for good measure.

As of Thursday morning, the forecast is for cooler weather, and overcast conditions, but only a slight chance of rain.

Marek, if you’re reading this, please layout the course to be as long and as difficult as possible, or find me at least 25 assistants to score the first two races.

On Sunday, we return to Wheeler Farm. This seems to be everyone’s favorite course, because there is so much that can be done; pavement, singletrack, stream crossings, run-ups, off-camber 180s, grass … Wheeler Farm seems to have it all; and right now, the forecast is for rain on Sunday with temperatures in the 50s. Prepare accordingly.

Categories/Times:

1:30 PM (60 Minutes)

• Men A (Pro, Semi-pro, Expert, Cat 1, Cat 2,)
• Masters Men A 35+ (Fast Old Guys [as opposed to Fat Old Guys, like Flahute]. You know who you are, and so do we. You have been racing your bike for years!)

12:30 PM (45 Minutes)

• Women A
• Masters Men B 35+
• Single Speed (do we need to explain?)

11:45 AM (20 minutes) - ONLY $8.00!!!

• Women C (First Season Cross Racers)
• Junior Men 10-14 *
• Junior Women 10-14 *
• Junior 9 & under

10:45 AM (45 Minutes)

• Men B
• Master Men 45+ Open

9:30 AM (40 Minutes)

… and we learned a few things.

1. Cyclocross is becoming more and more popular in Utah. Despite the nasty weather today, we had our biggest ever field, with about 280 riders.


2. We need to allow a little more time between races to allow for better warm-ups.


3. We need to be nicer Rules Nazis, and not mean ones; which of course takes all the fun out of being a Rules Nazi. So now I have to come up with a joke before I yell at riders not to warm up on the course during earlier races.


4. People need to stop standing in front of the Trooper on the finish line. It makes it extremely difficult for us to see riders far enough back to get numbers, especially when they are coming through in a pack. Yes, we have a camera this year, but we’re still trying to figure out how best to use it for ‘cross … this means that in the short term, we are still using the old method as the official method.

So, by following through on #2, hopefully there will be less reason for #3 …

With that said, there will be a schedule change in start times beginning at next week’s race at the Wasatch Country Fairgrounds in Heber.

The new start times are as follows:

Categories/Times:

1:30 PM (60 Minutes)

• Men A (Pro, Semi-pro, Expert, Cat 1, Cat 2,)
• Masters Men A 35+ (Fast Old Guys [as opposed to Fat Old Guys, like Flahute]. You know who you are, and so do we. You have been racing your bike for years!)

12:30 PM (45 Minutes)

• Women A
• Masters Men B 35+
• Single Speed (do we need to explain?)

11:45 AM (20 minutes) - ONLY $8.00!!!

• Women C (First Season Cross Racers)
• Junior Men 10-14 *
• Junior Women 10-14 *
• Junior 9 & under

* We found that Junior riders aged 15-18 would rather try and beat up on Mom and Dad!!!

10:45 AM (45 Minutes)

• Men B
• Master Men 45+ Open

9:30 AM (40 Minutes)

• Men C (First Timers, Entry Level Racers, Cat 5, Beginner)
• Master 55+ Open
• Women B (Beginner, Cat 4, Cat 5)

I’m sure there will be a few more takeaways, of which we will keep you apprised as the week goes on.

Finally, major props to Marit Fischer for deciding to race in the B and/or C mens flites. As I’m sure many of you are aware, Marit is training for the Ford Ironman Arizona, taking place on November 23rd, in Tempe.

Because of her training schedule, racing in the A flite, as she did for much of last season, is not going to work for her; so she was going to downgrade to the women’s B flite. After some thought, Marit decided that racing in the men’s races would give her the intensity (and fun “break” from training) she needs, but without being unfair to other women racing B’s.

I did not see Marit without a smile on her face today, she was having so much fun in the rain.

And so, Marit, as far as I’m concerned as the chief official, if the 9:30 race works better for you timing wise, especially at some of the more distant races (like Ogden and Heber), then it’s fine by me if you race with the men’s C flite, instead of with the men’s B flite as you did today. We all want to see you do well at Ironman, and would hate to lose you for the season because the start times are too difficult for you to work around.

We’re off to a great start … see you next week.

Gear up! Break out the Belgian Knee Warmers! Smell the glue! Right now the weather report is calling for an 80% chance of rain and showers, with highs temperatures in the low 60s. In other words, perfect ‘cross conditions for the first race of the season.

Those of you who have been racing cyclocross in Utah for awhile may remember this course, but it has changed quite a bit. The entire course will now be on the Equestrian Center side of the road. This will definitely be a fun course.

On Friday, October 3rd, from 4 to 7 pm there will be a Thorn Removal, Registration, and Number pick-up gathering at the Equestrian Center.

Pre-registration price applies: $22 for race and $10 one-time Season Number Fee (unless you lose, misplace, or forget your number, in which case we’ll charge you again). We do have duplicate numbers available for some of you who take your ‘cross racing more seriously and have 2 bikes.

We have NEW numbers made by World Cup Supply, which look great and should make scoring easier.

Bring a shovel or rake and come pick your number up Friday so you don’t have to stand in line on Saturday morning! The thorn situation is the best we have seen it, with just a couple spots that need a little help to be cleared.

** As always some kind of tire sealant is recommended for all Utah Cyclocross Series Races. We live in Utah and Goatheads are plentiful!!!!!

Categories/Times:

1 PM (60 Minutes)

• A (Pro, Semi-pro, Expert, Cat 1, Cat 2,)
• Masters A 35+ (Fast Old Guys [as opposed to Fat Old Guys, like Flahute]. You know who you are, and so do we. You have been racing your bike for years!)

12 Noon (45 Minutes)

• Women A
• Masters B 35+
• Single Speed (do we need to explain?)

11:30 AM (20 minutes) - ONLY $8.00!!!

• Women C (First Season Cross Racers)
• Junior Men 10-14 *
• Junior Women 10-14 *
• Junior 9 & under

* We found that Junior riders aged 15-18 would rather try and beat up on Mom and Dad!!!

10:30 AM (45 Minutes)

• Men B
• Master Men 45+ B

9:30 AM (40 Minutes)

• C (First Timers, Entry Level Racers, Cat 5, Beginner)
• Master 55+
• Women B ( Beginner, Cat 4, Cat 5)

NEW PORNOGRAPHERS - MYRIAD HARBOUR

I took a plane, I took a train.
Ah! Who cares? You always end up in the city.
I said to Carl: “look up for once,
See just how the sun sets in the sky.”
I said to John: “do you think the girls here
Ever wonder how they got so pretty?”
- Well, I do. -

Look out upon the Myriad Harbour
Look out upon the Myriad Harbour
Look out upon the Myriad Harbour

All the boys with their homemade microphones
Have very interesting sounds.
All the girls fall into ruin
Droppin’ out of school, breakin’ Daddies’ hearts
Just to hang around.

I walked into the local record store
And asked for an American music anthology
It sounds fun.
They tore at my skirt and stuck it on the walls at PS1.

I took a plane, I took a train.
Ah! Who cares? You always end up in the city.
Stranded at Bleecker and Broadway
And looking for something to do.
Someone somewhere asked me: “is there anything in
particular I can help you with?”
All I ever wanted help with was you.

Look out upon the Myriad Harbour
Look out upon the Myriad Harbour
Look out upon the Myriad Harbour
Look out upon the Myriad Harbour

THE STORM

1

Against the stone breakwater,
Only an ominous lapping,
While the wind whines overhead,
Coming down from the mountain,
Whistling between the arbors, the winding terraces;
A thin whine of wires, a rattling and flapping of leaves,
And the small street-lamp swinging and slamming against
        the lamp pole.

Where have the people gone?
There is one light on the mountain.

2

Along the sea-wall, a steady sloshing of the swell,
The waves not yet high, but even,
Coming closer and closer upon each other;
A fine fume of rain driving in from the sea,
Riddling the sand, like a wide spray of buckshot,
The wind from the sea and the wind from the mountain contending,
Flicking the foam from the whitecaps straight upward into the darkness.

A time to go home!—
And a child’s dirty shift billows upward out of an alley,
A cat runs from the wind as we do,
Between the whitening trees, up Santa Lucia,
Where the heavy door unlocks,
And our breath comes more easy,—
Then a crack of thunder, and the black rain runs over us, over
The flat-roofed houses, coming down in gusts, beating
The walls, the slatted windows, driving
The last watcher indoors, moving the cardplayers closer
To their cards, their anisette.

3

We creep to our bed, and its straw mattress.
We wait; we listen.
The storm lulls off, then redoubles,
Bending the trees half-way down to the ground,
Shaking loose the last wizened oranges in the orchard,
Flattening the limber carnations.

A spider eases himself down from a swaying light-bulb,
Running over the coverlet, down under the iron bedstead.
The bulb goes on and off, weakly.
Water roars into the cistern.

We lie closer on the gritty pillow,
Breathing heavily, hoping—
For the great last leap of the wave over the breakwater,
The flat boom on the beach of the towering sea-swell,
The sudden shudder as the jutting sea-cliff collapses,
And the hurricane drives the dead straw into the living pine-tree.

  — Theodore Roethke (1908 - 1963), American Poet.

YOU

You create poetry
by simply standing
in the
afternoon rain,
cigarette dangling
from a crooked
smile.

Some of us
have to work
harder
at this kind of thing.

  — William Taylor Jr., American poet based in San Francisco