--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The bicycles go by in twos and threes…" description: "\"The bicycles go by in twos and threes - There's a dance in Billy Brennan's barn to-night, And there's the half-talk code of mysteries And the wink-and-..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/patrick-kavanagh-14181_barns_the-bicycles-go-by-in-twos-and-threes-th_1339244.png" --- # The bicycles go by in twos and threes - There's a dance in… ![“The bicycles go by in twos and threes - There's a dance in Billy Brennan's barn to-night, And there's the half-talk code of mysteries And the wink-and-elbow language of delight. Half-past eight and there is not a spot Upon a mile of road, no shadow thrown That might turn out a man or woman, not A…” quote by Patrick Kavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/patrick-kavanagh-14181_barns_the-bicycles-go-by-in-twos-and-threes-th_1339244.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/patrick-kavanagh-14181_barns_the-bicycles-go-by-in-twos-and-threes-th_1339244.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/patrick-kavanagh-14181_barns_the-bicycles-go-by-in-twos-and-threes-th_1339244.png) > “The bicycles go by in twos and threes - There's a dance in Billy Brennan's barn to-night, And there's the half-talk code of mysteries And the wink-and-elbow language of delight. Half-past eight and there is not a spot Upon a mile of road, no shadow thrown That might turn out a man or woman, not A footfall tapping secrecies of stone. I have what every poet hates in spite Of all the solemn talk of contemplation. Oh, Alexander Selkirk knew the plight Of being king and government and nation. A road, a mile of kingdom, I am king Of banks and stones and every blooming thing.” [Patrick Kavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-kavanagh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Celebrates ordinary moments, finding wonder in everyday scenes and the hidden language of the world. **In simple terms:** See magic in daily life. Key Takeaway Notice subtle beauty around you. Themes observation wonder creativity Mood contemplative playful Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - walking in nature - reading poetry - urban exploration Key Concepts poetic imagination mundane mysticism Questions to Reflect On - What ordinary detail sparks your imagination? - How can you translate daily scenes into art? A Different Perspective Interpretations may be overly abstract for some readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alexander Selkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alexander-selkirk-4518118/) [Barns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barns/) [Bicycle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bicycle/) [Blooming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blooming/) [Code](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/code/) [Contemplation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplation/) [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Eight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eight/) [Elbows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elbows/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/july/) [Kingdoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdoms/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Mile Kingdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mile-kingdom-4518120/) [Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miles/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Plight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plight/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Secrecy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrecy/) [Selkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selkirk-4518121/) [Selkirk Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selkirk-knew-4518117/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Solemn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solemn/) [Spite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spite/) [Spots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spots/) [Stone Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stone-poet-4518119/) [Stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stones/) [Tapping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tapping/) [Thrown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrown/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) ## Related quotes > [An isolated man like Alexander Selkirk might feel the benefit of a stock of provisions, tools and other means of facilitating industry, although cut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/an-isolated-man-like-alexander-selkirk-might-feel-the-benefit-of-a/) [William Stanley Jevons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/) > [Everyone tells you to write what you know. 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In my opinion, the damned are damned because they enjoy being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-kavanagh/it-often-occurs-to-me-that-we-love-most-what-makes-us-miserable-in-my/) [Patrick Kavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-kavanagh/) > [Ancient Ireland sweeping In again with all its unbaptized beauty: The calm evening, The whitethorn blossoms, The smell from ditches that were not Christian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-kavanagh/ancient-ireland-sweeping-in-again-with-all-its-unbaptized-beauty-the/) [Patrick Kavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-kavanagh/) > [Poetry is not Irish or any other nationality; and when writers such as Messrs. Clarke, Farren and the late F. R. Higgins pursue Irishness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-kavanagh/poetry-is-not-irish-or-any-other-nationality-and-when-writers-such-as/) [Patrick Kavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-kavanagh/) > [In the country places of Ireland, writing is held in certain awe: a writer was a dangerous man from whom they instinctively recoiled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-kavanagh/in-the-country-places-of-ireland-writing-is-held-in-certain-awe-a/) [Patrick Kavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-kavanagh/) > [In the dear dead days beyond recall, when I was in my prime as a film critic, the industry was booming. Hollywood, to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-kavanagh/in-the-dear-dead-days-beyond-recall-when-i-was-in-my-prime-as-a-film/) [Patrick Kavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-kavanagh/) > [Young writers should keep out of pubs and remember that the cliche way of the artistic life is a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-kavanagh/young-writers-should-keep-out-of-pubs-and-remember-that-the-cliche/) [Patrick Kavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-kavanagh/) [Explore all 47 Patrick Kavanagh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-kavanagh/) ## More Barns quotes > [I assume my stance, and take back the club, low, slowly; at the top, my eyes fog over, and my joints dip and swirl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/i-assume-my-stance-and-take-back-the-club-low-slowly-at-the-top-my/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [My father kept me busy from dawn to dusk when I was a kid. 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Yeah, probably.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-i-enjoy-features-yeah-i-really-do-would-i-like-to-do-some-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just because two of the people in this barn have decided to spend their lives together doesn't mean the rest of us are obligated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ryan/just-because-two-of-the-people-in-this-barn-have-decided-to-spend/) [Sara Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ryan/) > [Were you raised in a barn? You don't just walk into someone's house." Ash laughed. "I have an open invitation to enter whenever I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/were-you-raised-in-a-barn-you-don-t-just-walk-into-someone-s-house/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [The first slap-jack given me for dinner was a cake of flour, partially fried in a pan of fat bacon. I nibbled about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-smith/the-first-slap-jack-given-me-for-dinner-was-a-cake-of-flour-partially/) [James Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-smith/) > [Far and away the most futile admonition Christ ever offered was when he said, 'Have no care for tomorrow. Don't worry about whether you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-quinn/far-and-away-the-most-futile-admonition-christ-ever-offered-was-when/) [Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-quinn/) > [Farm country -- you know, hay, horses, cattle. It's the ideal situation for me. I like the physical endeavors that go with the farm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/farm-country-you-know-hay-horses-cattle-it-s-the-ideal-situation-for/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [The principle factor in my success has been an absolute desire to draw constantly. I never decided to be an artist. Simply, I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winsor-mccay/the-principle-factor-in-my-success-has-been-an-absolute-desire-to/) [Winsor McCay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winsor-mccay/) > [We are to remember what an umpire Nature is; what a greatness, composure of depth and tolerance there is in her. You take wheat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/we-are-to-remember-what-an-umpire-nature-is-what-a-greatness/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Garages, barns and attics are always older than the buildings to which they are attached.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/garages-barns-and-attics-are-always-older-than-the-buildings-to-which/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [When the cold comes to New England it arrives in sheets of sleet and ice. 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Half-past eight and there is not a spot Upon a mile of road, no shadow thrown That might turn out a man or woman, not A footfall tapping secrecies of stone. I have what every poet hates in spite Of all the solemn talk of contemplation. Oh, Alexander Selkirk knew the plight Of being king and government and nation. 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