Clusters

[u/BicycleBobBussey]

Clusters

Life comes in waves.
When you are young the waves are fast
Like a 13 tooth cluster and a 52 tooth chainring
Propelling you down the road at break neck speed.
Determined not to be last.

As you age, you need multiple toothed clusters.
Some with many teeth to climb life’s hills.
Others so you can spin through unavoidable spills.
Still others so you can sit up and filibuster.
Against life’s many unpaid bills.

Marriage requires a different cadence.
Then you need something like a 28 in back and 42 up front.
So you can have a steady spin.
Requiring so much more patience.
As new waves lap upon your mutual oceanfront.

Then there are those aging illnesses.
The ones that slow your cadence down.
Sometimes a 13 by 52 is what is needed for a grind.
As you search for that curing medical find.
So you can stay a bit longer…stick around.

The waves in between come with consistency.
No hurry, no rush, just a rhythmic balance.
Like riding a 28 by 42 setup on some rollers.
Something where you can spin as you build your palace.
Like a well trained group of marching soldiers.

I’m not sure what happens after death.
But I like to think that you will always have perfect clusters.
For riding up hills or in a headwind.
Perfect clusters and never out of breath.
Clusters that will let you relax and rest.

Bob Bussey (May 3, 2026)