A tradition since...well, yesterday.

The Thanksgiving Day ride. There are many things to be thankful for and many to give thanks to.
Health, family, friends. Yesterday I was thankful that there was no snow and ice so I could still ride and thankful that I have a couple of friends who are crazy enough to brave the cold and hit the road. So Gary and Claw, I hope the turkey was great. I loved the ride.

On another note, I posted two poems today on Songs of the Open Road, these from Sorez The Scribe and Chopper Kate.

Two new Poems and other stuff

I have written posted two new poems, "I love Loud Pipes" and "Living in the Ride" , on Songs of the Open Road.

Raining off and on today and what a nice relief from the heat we've been experiencing. Unfortunately it will take more than some light rain to reduce the fire danger.

Two New Poems

Just posted two new poems, "Sensual Bathing" and "The Yo-mama-ha Rider" on Songs of the Open Road, my Poetry blog/eZine. The former was written for fun and the latter cam out of yesterday's ride to Jackson.

New Poem-We Ride These Roads

Just posted my newest poem "We Ride These Roads" at Songs of the Open Road. This poem came out of a motorcycle road trip I took a few years back when I followed the Oregon/Mormon trail. It was a great ride.

New Poem--Sexy Sally

Just posted my newest poem, "Sexy Sally" on my Poetry Blog/eZine, Songs of the Open Road
Check it out.

My Nomination Letter

Re: Nomination for Motorcycle/Biker Poet Laureate of the Western Frontier 2007

RoadHouse Press, Inc. (roadhousepress.com) would like to officially nominate Bill "Uglicoyote" Davis for Motorcycle/Biker Poet Laureate of the Western Frontier 2007. Davis's commitment to ePublishing and supporting Bikerpoetry through his blogs and webpages is second only to his own bikerpoetry and riding history.

Bikerpoetry is coming of age! The efforts of Bikerpoets such as Peddlar, Colorado T. Sky, Wild Bill (The Alaskan Poet), Mountain Man in Canada, Gypsypashn, Bear, JoeGo, Panhead Josh and countless others to keep bikerpoetry on the forefront of history as it comes of age are commendable. Publishers such as Jodi Lipson, Don Clady, Leo Castell are but a few of the known publishers that provide the ePage or the hard copy to bikerpoets, and I am sure there are many more out there nationally or internationally that are jumping on the bikerpoetry bus to spearhead the movement. A special mention for Bill Macmillan at Worcester's Best Poetry Venue: The Java Hut, because the stage and the mic lends the lime-light to Bikerpoetry and gives us the opportunity to showcase the genre in community. But, where would it all go without the bikerpoet who pours his/her heart and soul into carving their hard-ridden spirit onto the stage, the written page or ePage so we can all witness this genre exploding?

Through such bikerpoets as ChopprKate, Tom Quinn, Ironhorse Writer, we have seen the reason that bikerpoetry has sprung from the road to the page, because they represent hundreds of brothers/sisters who ride by bringing the thunder of their words to life. Bikerpoetry is rolling down history road so fast that it's becoming hard to keep up with the names of all who join the Bikerpoetry movement for the ride through The Biker Poetry Hall of Fame. The best way to do this is hop on one of the websites that host venues for Bikerpoetry and follow our band of BikerBards around the country as they post other bikerpoets works or put on live shows and venues throughout Biker Nation and the community at large. Check out motorcyclegoodies.com under press releases (information) and in the northeast you can find listings on supersundayonline forums, laconiabikeweek.net, roadpoet.com, roadpoet-ny.com, gypsypashn.com, VTwinbiker.com, The Motorcyclists Post, and in CT Cruise News Newspaper (Publisher, Editor Don Clady).

RoadHouse Press, Inc. apologizes if we have left anyone out of this press release for so many, many generous community venues and bikerpoets have contributed to the coming of age of Bikerpoetry in 2007, too many to list, but they are not forgotten. Without the hard work of so many the Bikerpoetry movement would be still crawling, but thanks to so many, we are off to a great run!

The Bikerpoet Laureate is a key figure in the bringing this genre to light in the literary world. Through poetry venues, websites, publishings and public relations the Bikerpoet Laureate fosters respect between the academic community, the literary community and the biker nation as this genre steps to light and takes a bow.

Two of my favorite memories in the toddler stages of Bikerpoetry, as the editor/founder of RoadHouse Press, Inc. are sitting at Charlies' Tap in Cambridge, Massachusetts when the roar of Peddlar's bikerpoetry brought the house into thunderous applause one week and then the next week walking into a poetry workshop in Cape Cod to find Colorado T.Sky. Between the two, Sky and Peddlar, sat the poetry community. It was like bringing a couple of choppers with iron clad bikers attached into a sewing circle. The electricity zapped when Peddlar tossed verses back and forth with Sky. And this was just the early days --- today this happens week to week to week.. whenever a Biker Brother or Sister brings their work to the table, stage or the Page.

Best of luck to Uglicoyote with this nomination. I am sure he will serve the poetry community with dedication if he is appointed. Take a look at his eZine and you will see why RoadHouse Press, Inc has made this nomination: http://songsopenroad.blogspot.com/

MarySusan Williams-Migneault
Founder/Editor RoadHouse Press, Inc.
roadhousepress.com
rdhousepress@aol.com

August is Biker Poetry Month

Roadpoet EMagazine,

Press Release ...
by Gray Hunter ...
Roadpoet Staff ...

August 2007:

Put your rubber to the road and your pen to the paper and tell the world you are a biker and a poet. This August is the third annual Bikerpoetry Month and all riders and writers are urged to take part in as many Bikerpoetry events as possible.
Yes, April is National Poetry Month, but in the Spring of 2005, the staff of RoadPoet eMagazine decided that Bikerpoets and Writers needed their own Poetry Month. Let's face it, April is cold and Bikers get their inspiration to write through their riding. Throughout the country, August is a good month for riding, so August was chosen for this honor.

So the question is, who can be part of Biker Poetry Month? Anyone who does the following:

- Publishes Biker Poetry
- Broadcasts Biker Poetry
- Gives a Biker Poetry lecture
- Hosts a Biker Poetry Workshop or a show
- How about a Bikerpoetry Month Cookout?

For more information or to add an event to the Bikerpoetry Month Events list, please contact RoadPoet eMagazine i/e roadpoet.com at roadpoetmagazine@webtv.net

Below is a partial list of Bikerpoetry Month events:

First Thursday, August 2nd, (Arrive: Between 6:30 - 6:45/Sign Up:
Between 6:30 - 7:00)Andy's Place, Lowell, MA Welcomes BikerPoets
to Lowell's First Poetry Open Mic and Slam.

Saturday, August 11, 2pm ... All invited ... Hopefully it's a ride!
Open Mic Village Book Store Bellows Vermont

Monday, August 13, 7pm ... Conway Library, Conway NH, A RoadHouse
Press Reading, All invited. Open Mic following feature.

Thursday, August 16, starts around 6 or 6:30pm, Gypsypashn's
Travelling Poetry Caravan Reading .. Downtown Medford and/or
3rd Annual Bikerpoetry Cookout to follow Reading at her home.

Monday, August 20, 8pm. Stone Soup Cambridge, Featuring
Colorado T. Sky and the Highway Poets

Tuesday, August 21,7:30PM at North Star Portland Maine,
Featuring J Barrett Wolf AKA Bear and the Roadpoet eMagazine
Staff and Friends

Saturday, August 25, 3rd Annual Second Hand Reeds Bookstore in
Saco Maine ... Colorado T. Sky

Sunday, August 26 Java Hut,Worcester, MA - Colorado T Sky
and the Highway Poets

Also during the month of August, several BikerPoets will be nominated as Bikerpoet Laureates. The present Bikerpoet and Motorcycle Poet Laureates are:

K. Peddlar Bridges aka The Peddlar,
Super Sunday (R) Expo, Poet Laureate.

Betsy Lister aka Gypsypashn,
Roadpoet eMagazine's, Massachusetts' Motorcycle Poet Laureate.
and Roadpoet eMagazine's New Hampshire Motorcycle poet Laureate.

Bill Rogers aka Wild Bill, The Alaskan Poet,
Roadpoet eMagazine's, Poet Laureate of the Northern Frontier.

And The Biker Poets and Writers' Association's,
National Bikerpoet Laureate, Colorado T.Sky.

Below is the criteria for 2007 Bikerpoet Laureateship:

The Motorcycle/Biker Poet Laureate will display an outstanding commitment to the Motorcycling and Poetry communities, as well as a serious commitment to riding and Poetry itself. The obligations and duties of the Motorcycle/Biker Poet Laureate are as follows, but are not limited to:

To be published in ink and light on a regular basis

To promote Roadpoet eMagazine and support Roadpoet eMagazine
poetry events.

To show a serious commitment to Motorcycling, Poetry and the Event
i/e the regional area the Motorcycle/Biker Poet Laureate represents.

To promote Motorcycling and Poetry on a regular basis.

To attend and perform at BikerPoetry readings and Motorcycling events
as to represent The Motorcycle/Biker Poet Laureateship at these events
on a regular basis.

To find a hard copy forum to represent the Motorcycle/Biker Poet
Laureateship, Motorcycling and the Motorcycle Poetry Community, always
striving to publish and promote other Biker Poets whenever possible.

If for any reason the set Motorcycle/Biker Poet Laureate can not fulfill these requirements as Motorcycle Poet Laureate by choice or circumstances, the Editor/Publisher of Roadpoet eMagazine i/e K. Peddlar Bridges will stand in place for The Motorcycle Poet Laureate for the remaining time or choose another Motorcycle Poet to do so.

The Poet Laureateship has a long standing in Literary and World History, dating from Virgil, Homer, Chaucer, through 18th century Britain, up until today, with such names as Billy Collins, Ted Kooser, and Suffolk County New York's Poet laureate, George Wallace. The mission of the Poet Laureate is to express -- The News, the Emotions, and the Excitement -- of the events for the group they represent. They are to be a collective voice, be it mirth or sorrow.

If you know someone you believe who fits this list? Please let us know.
So when the dust settles on the pavement and the parchment this September First, let's all look back on this year's Bikerpoetry Month, as a huge success!
*****
Two notes:
First,please notice that most of the events listed take place in the East. Are there any events like it in the West?

Second. I'm pleased and proud to tell you that I am one of the Bikerpoet Laureate nominees.

Keep on keepin' on

VTwinBiker.com

Q-Ball over at VTwinBiker.com has published two poems of mine. There is getting to be quite a collection of Biker/Motorcycle poetry over there so check it out.

Keep on keepin' on

Two Poems from Wild Bill, The Alaskan Biker Poet

Over at Songs of the Open Road I just posted two poems from Wild Bill, the Alaskan Biker poet. You can check more of his work here. Wild Bill Rogers is also the Editor/Publisher of Midnight Sun Rider, Alaska's Motorcycle Magazine.

Three New Baiku

Just posted three new Baiku (Biker Haiku) at Songs of the Open Road

Poetry-Chopper Kate Johnson

Just posted a poem by Chopper Kate on my poetry blog/eZine, Songs of the Open Road
I like Kate's style and I hope you like it to.

Keep on keepin' on!

Waxing Prolific and the week ahead

I've waxed prolific in the last few days. I've finished and posted four new poems and I have a couple of other poems started. This doesn't count the three baiku I posted on Friday. The muse moves in mysterious ways and I've experienced creative bursts like this before. I've been inspired by the weather, the riding I've been doing and more. The ideas just seem to "show up" and there I am, writing poetry when I should be washing the bike. I get home from a ride, I'm tired and I should be going to bed but there I sit putting my words down before they slip away. You can check my latest scribbles at Songs of the Open Road. If you like what you read, share it with your friends. If you're offended by anything I write, tell everyone you know. If you scribble poems yourself, consider sending your work along and I'll consider placing them on my page.

Several things happening with my HOG chapter this week, and then on Friday we're hooking up with two other chapters to spend the weekend riding in the mountains of central Idaho. We'll be staying at Challis Hot Springs and I hope to have lots of pictures and a complete report upon my return.

Keep on keepin' on

Three New Poems

I just posted my three new poems, Pastor Bob and the C.M.A , 99 Miles from Shoshoni to Casper, and Another Biker Has Gone Down at Songs of the Open Road, my Biker Poetry blog/e-zine. Check it out.

Keep on Keepin' on

Uglicoyote's Newest Poem

Remembered Roads

It was a hot and windy day
and I was feeling quite beat down
when I stopped along the way
in that little nothing town

I pulled up by the pumps
and filled her up with gas.
Three old-timers on their rumps
in front, just nodded when I passed.

I went inside to get cooled down
Then got myself Coke
I went back out, looked around,
and lit myself a smoke.

At my bike those three had gathered round,
you could see stories were being told.
They examined her from top to ground
then glanced longingly down the road.

One turned to me, stuck out his hand
I shook it and he said,
"We, all three ,fought for this here land
as did many friends, now dead."

"We all came back from World War Two,
The three of us ", he said.
"We weren't quite sure what we would do,
when in entered in our heads."

"We'll all get motorcycles, we thought,
and to this we all agreed.
War surplus bikes were readily bought,
They became our Iron Steeds"

"Jim and Tom had old Harley 45's;
I bobbed an old surplus Indian.
Riding those bike made us feel alive,
like we were back home once again."

"We rode those bikes from coast to coast,
and then back around again.
We did all the things we had missed the most
when we were off in that foreign land."

Then they went on to tell their tales,
of young women wooed and tossed.
Of a bar fight and a night in jail,
of memories they'd thought lost.

You could see the twinkle in their eyes
as they remembered those long lost roads.
As they told of mountains, bright blue skies.
and riding in rain and cold.

When, departure time came for me,
each took my hand in turn.
The last said. "My son, ride free,
for there's one thing I've learned."

"If you love the freedom of road,
riding toward that endless sky.
Remember always the debt that's owed
to all of those who've died."

"You have the freedom of the ride,
oh wondrous things you'll see,
but the ghosts will be there at your side,
who purchased your Liberty."

As I rode away, those three old vets
just disappeared from view.
Impossible, I thought, and yet...
The words they spoke rang true.

So now, three ghost's ride at my side,
together toward the setting sun.
In freedom and the wind we ride
On remembered roads we run.

2007 Bill "uglicoyote" Davis