half a second
wheels racing
blacktop
a boy
a Ford 150
15 mph
stopped
just
in
time
boy bicycles on
unaware
unhaunted by
the ghost
of what
never
was.
© 2026 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.
First published on tristanrobertlange.com, October 9, 2026.
Tittu
+++
Coming this Macabre Monday:
DEVILISHLY DREADFUL
The Initiate;
or, the Mysteries of the White Band
on October 12, 2026
-
Author:
Tristan Robert Lange (
Offline) - Published: October 9th, 2026 08:09
- Comment from author about the poem: Part of the The Thinking Dark collection.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 30
- Users favorite of this poem: sorenbarrett, Teddy.15, arqios, Paul Bell, Kevin Hulme, Friendship, Cheeky Missy
- In collections: The Thinking Dark.
Offline)
Comments9
A close brush with death that never was, fine write
Thank you, Norman. Everyone went home safely...I’m so thankful for that. 👻🖤🚲🙏
Exactly my friend
Tristan this brought me flashbacks. When twenty one years old I was driving in a hurry through a residential area my attention diverted I came back to see a young boy on the sidewalk right in front of my car going forty miles an hour I was able to swerve out of the way and avoided hitting the child. The memory serves as a ghost to me to this day of what might have been and a reminder to always pay attention and stay at a low speed in residential areas. It still haunts me and I look at it as possibly saving others as well. A powerful write for me and on the basis of that power a fave
Chilling I’m SO glad you were able to avoid him. Also incredible how Tristan’s poem and your story line up so much..
Yes having lived enough years I find many commonalities with peoples poems.
Oh, Soren...I’m so glad you missed him. I was watching from my porch, and it triggered my PTSD from being hit by a pickup while riding my bike at fourteen. I suffered a TBI...there was a me before that accident and a me after. Watching this younger child nearly go through the same thing, if he survived it at all, was what haunted me. Thank you for sharing your experience and for the fave. 👻🖤🚲🙏
vicecream and Soren, I’m glad we can have this conversation. I was the cyclist in my own accident at fourteen, and the witness this time. Hearing from you, Soren, adds something I couldn’t have brought to it myself. 👻🖤🚲🙏
Most welcome
Now here is a fave 🤩🕊️👍🏻
Thanks for the fave, arqios! Always glad to see you here. 👻🖤🚲🙏
Oh, here in Florence a noble family just a few years ago lost their 21 year old in a bike accident in London, Fillipo Corsini and every time I drive past their home I some how feel so desperately sorry that he died whilst he was enjoying himself in London a student I believe. This is a "what if" poem which really makes one think. I have so damn many especially at the moment 💜
Ah, Teddy...I wish he’d had the chance to come home. And I wish I could give you a hug right now. Thank you for being here and sharing with me. 🤗 👻🖤🚲🙏
💜
The ghost of Popeye glugging! lol.
WCAT paranormal update, Orchi...Olive’s confiscated the ouija board. Popeye kept using it to order spinach, and the delivery driver refuses to enter through the wall. 👻🖤🚲🙏
Kids dice with death daily, I know I did on my bike.
As a car driver, I watch the new kids on the block with electric bikes that can reach 40mph.
I would imagine no one wants the death of a child on their conscience, but someone will.
hanks, Paul...I see those e-bikes and ridiculous speeds too. This morning I saw a kid about ten doing 40 the wrong way down a one-way street. Someone’s going to get killed. I was hit by a pickup on my bike at fourteen and suffered a TBI that changed my life, so watching these kids scares the hell out of me. I’m glad you’re looking out for them. 👻🖤🚲🙏
Such a fine write. A lot to think about here .
A fave for sure.
Tristan, you have all the support you need above and I agree with most of it. I think I have a slight problem in that I play back ‘what ifs’ in my mind continually, and while some are very useful in a reassessment of my own behaviour at the time, others tend to creep me out.
An interesting write worthwhile for me all on its own.
Death is never where you expect it to be ...
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