Philosophical poetry

To start off a series of sporting poetry, a poem about a cyclist who likes to read philosophy books

sent by Harry Zevenbergen

The Philosopher (for Pedro Horillo)

the law of the Tour de France says
you may never ride in the back of the bunch
it's an absolute truism
an often used cyclist's wisdom

sportsman's wisdom what use are they
to a normal human being
irrefutable yet still it doesn't add up

I really would like to discuss them with
Pedro Horillo the philosopher
with a suitcase full of Nietzsche
nihilism instead of Epo as a stimulant

for example:
in the Tour de France you
may never ride in the back

Horillo:
someone has to ride there
the road's not broad enough for all
the racers to ride next to each other
that really is just possible in case they
cross the road broadwise not lengthwise
but that way the stages will be to short

or a Cruijffism:
if you're in possesion of the ball
the opponent can't score

Horillo:
that may be right but
when both teams stick to
those tactics in extremus
you need two balls

Horillo would prefer to stop in each town
to admire the architecture and local museums
an old cyclist's wisdom however teaches
that way you never get to the finish in time

Image courtesy of Supermietzi photostream on Flickr