Colville’s Cyclist and Crow, by Dan MacIsaac

This poem is written in response to Cyclist and Crow, by Alex Colville (Canada) 1981. Click here to view.

Colville’s Cyclist and Crow

As the crow flies,
the cyclist glides.

After the black rebel,
the rider pedals.

Light breaks against
her bent back and knees.

And darkness
does not wait

but pushes on
toward oblivion.

In this antic race,
they duel:

human and animal,
inhuman and angel,

female and male,
dark and day.

Each chases
self and other--

light rider,
dark flier;

dark rider,
light flier.

Dan MacIsaac

​Dan MacIsaac writes from Metchosin, BC in a house overlooking a salt water lagoon. His poetry has appeared in magazines such as Event, The Ekphrastic Review, Prism, and Canadian Literature. Brick Books published his collection of poetry, Cries from the Ark; and, in 2022, Alfred Gustav Press published his chapbook, Jazz Sessions.