A Poem About Theodore's Quad

Marjory Khan wrote a poem based on the picture of Theodore and his quad and sent it to me:

Dear Ed,
Hello, my name is Marjory. My daughter's friend asked me for help in writing a poem. Her teacher had assigned her to write a poem comparing herself to a machine, and she had chosen an ATV. As I knew next to nothing about ATVs, I did a search on GoToWorld and your page came up. I thought it was very interesting even though I am not into these activities. I especially liked your photo "jump.ipg" of Theodore. In fact, your website so much moved me that, in addition to helping my young friend with her poem, which had to be rhymed, I composed my own free verse, which you may share with anyone you please if you like it. The line marked with an asterisk was inspired by your picture of Theodore.

IF AN ATV COULD TALK, IT WOULD SAY ...

Hi! My name is All Terrain Vehicle, but my friends call me ATV for short.
I hungrily suckle the nurturing fuel; my stomach holds ten liters.
Eager for adventure, I climb the rough logging roads,
Meeting the challenge of slope and rock.
I play tug-of-war with tree stumps; I seldom fail to yank one from its place.
Then my gunning engine joins with the humans' triumphant shouts.
I bound over low mounds, briefly airborne, exhilarated.*
"I tread where others dread" is my motto.
I love the competition of mud races, the muddier the better.
After the race, my buddies and I hang about and compare form in our rumbling voices.
Battle-scarred with scratches and dents, I boastfully display my wounds.
Too weary to go home on my own tires, I gratefully ride in the pickup.
Then it's a shower with the hose, and I'm ready to strut my stuff again.

I proudly challenge my owner's son: Are you man enough to ride me?
Yet forgive me for such arrogant speech! For my owner is my God.
I pray:
"Our Owner Who sit astride me,
"Honored by Thy name.
"Thy steering come, Thy driving be done,
"On dune as it is on mountain.
"Give us this day our daily fuel,
"And forgive us our breakdowns,
"As we forgive the breakdowns of other.
"And lead us not into crevasses,
"But deliver us from the junkyard.
"For Thine is the pickup, and the mechanic shop, and the vast outdoors.
"May Thou ride me forever. Amen."

Marjory Khan

Pretty neat huh?