The Quadricycle



On this date in eighteen hundred ninety six

And seventeen years before the perfect fit

Between man and driving machine - the Model T

Henry Ford would pre-dawn test his first - not three



As the tricycles of Georges Bouton and De Dion were 

But with four wheels clearly a better carriage for more

Than the weight of a single person, who would drive

Having to apply pedal pressure when the speed dived



For that was the case with the Frenchmen's effort

Which could indeed acquire some pace, with support

Achieving a top speed of thirty-three miles per hour   

Making it one of the fastest then available ... 

                                             and such power ... !!!



- Tristram



© Christopher W. Thomas

11:20pm Friday, June 4th, 1999