Fettling of Parts

There are those who believe that classic motorcycles are poetry in motion. Marc Buffery proves that classic bike poetry can inspire all manner of emotions…

To-day we have fettling of parts. Yesterday,

We had daily cleaning. And to-morrow morning,

We shall have what to do after riding. But to-day,

To-day we have fettling of parts. Japonica

Glistens like coral in all of the neighboring gardens,

And to-day we have fettling of parts.

This is the lower engine mount. And this

Is the upper engine mount, whose use you will see,

When you are given your spanners. And this is the auto advance,

Which in your case you have not got. The branches

Hold in the gardens their silent, eloquent gestures,

Which in our case we have not got.

This is the points cover, which is always released

With an easy flick of the thumb. And please do not let me

See anyone using his finger. You can do it quite easy

If you have any strength in your thumb. The blossoms

Are fragile and motionless, never letting anyone see

Any of them using their finger.

And this you can see is the twist grip. The purpose of this

Is to open the throttle, as you see. We can twist it

Rapidly backwards and forwards: we call this

Easing the slide. And rapidly backwards and forwards

The early bees are assaulting and fumbling the flowers:

They call it easing the slide.

They call it easing the slide: it is perfectly easy

If you have any strength in your thumb: like the points,

And the carb, and the kick start, and the point of the auto advance,

Which in our case we have not got; and the almond blossom. Silent in all of the gardens and the bees going backwards and forwards,

For to-day we have fettling of parts.