Question

In an essay discuss the way in which Naomi Shihab Nye treats loneliness in "The Rider" What does loneliness mean to the speaker? How does bicycling help her leave her loneliness behind? Cite passages from the poem to support your points.

The Rider

Naomi Shihab Nye



A boy told me
if he rollerskated fast enough
his loneliness couldn't catch up to him,



the best reason I ever heard
5 for trying to be a champion.



What I wonder tonight
pedaling hard down King William Street
is if it translates to bicycles.



A victory! To leave your loneliness
10 panting behind you on some street corner
while you float free into a cloud of sudden azaleas,
luminous pink petals that have
never felt loneliness,
no matter how slowly they fell.

Answer 1

Loneliness means being sad, not having anyone to be with. As he was cycling down the road, he recalled what the roller skater said about skating fast enough to leave your loneliness behind. He wondered if this could also be done by cycling, he found out immediately that this method works. As he pedaled on, he realized he was happy.

I hope this helps :)