Cobblestones slick with canal breath
My Pentax hangs heavy on chest
Mechanic wipes grease on wool coat
Wrench turns slow on nitrous throat
Engine hums beneath the bridge
Winter fog eats every ridge
Blue flame sleeps in steel veins deep
Amsterdam holds what engines keep
Houseboats rock on black water skin
Bicycle spokes reflect dim tin
He checks pressure with calloused thumb
Exhaust curls where gulls don't come
Engine hums beneath the bridge
Winter fog eats every ridge
Blue flame sleeps in steel veins deep
Amsterdam holds what engines keep
Shutter clicks at f-stop two-eight
Captures torque before it's late
Film grain drinks the sodium glow
Pistons breathe in rhythm slow
Engine hums beneath the bridge
Winter fog eats every ridge
Blue flame sleeps in steel veins deep
Amsterdam holds what engines keep
Grease stains map his knuckle lines
Each bolt turned keeps perfect time
No tourists here on morning trams
Just combustion and canal dams
Nitrogen waits in silver tanks
Silence stretches crankshaft ranks
One deep breath then thunder wakes
Ice cracks loud on water brakes
Rev climbs clean through arched brick throat
Headlights cut the fog like notes
Mechanic grins through beard-frost white
Nitrous bites the frozen night
Engine hums beneath the bridge
Winter fog eats every ridge
Blue flame wakes in steel veins deep
Amsterdam keeps what engines keep
Amsterdam keeps what engines keep
Shutter winds to final frame
Engine hums in canal vein
