Have You Seen America ?

Have You Seen My America

Have you seen my America?

Let me tell you friend,

until you have traveled this land by motorcycle,

You have not seen my America.

When traveling caged, in air conditioned luxury,

only seeing that which, takes your mind from the stereo,

stopping to check out tourist attractions,

my friend you have not seen my America.

I’ve ridden California hills and desert, crossed midwest fields and plains,

passed through rolling wooded piedmont,

stopped at eastern fishing villages, and I can tell you,

if you have not also seen these places,

by two wheeled transportation,

you have not seen my America.

I would trade nothing for the hills and woods passing by,

or turning from the beaten path along my way to meet people,

in small wayside towns along roads whose names I do not remember.

I tell you friend,

unless you see America on two wheels,

you have not seen my America.

Riding our roads from place to place,

along hard surfaced trails of two lanes and four,

feeling the wind in my hair,

and loving the fresh air and smells that greet you along the way.

Unless you have sensed America this way,

you have not seen my America.

It takes only one long ride to know why this land has meant so much to us,

and why we have so much pride in it,

and have fought so hard to keep it,

only one ride to know why you must see it the way I do.

No my friend,

unless you have seen it as I have,

unless you have seen it by motorcycle,

you have not seen my America.