From West To North And Then Some...

She! Who was a teenager back in 72

recalls filthy specks of dust soiling her skin

discharged from Smelting Works grime so grim,

carbon hanging over head cloud was bad

disillusioned with environment

girl became sad,

 

life she'd known up until eighteen

was defined by acceptance

her existence

never questioning,

or considering

the bigger picture.

 

Waiting silently

wouldn't change a thing,

but how could she trust

what's felt but not seen?

It had never been significant

there had been no dream,

 

but now,

realization that

something's not right

as memories cling

like molasses

so tight,

 

try to drop lightly on an unforgotten life

float down gently from what cuts like a knife,

search darkest corners

of an attic brain

not really knowing how to burn harsh realities

to become sane,

 

it was always hard bitten with nose to the grind

but life was empty stuck in factory confined,

those timely distressing recollections

that haunt her memory,

to pack it all in

would be the best remedy,

 

softly – softly tracing steps back

faint lines becoming blurred with time

breaking free isn't easy or straightforward never kind,

it takes courage to find her own fate

waiting and waiting, then...

one day she finds her soul mate,

 

now a boy and a girl are together finding their way

thumbing it with no job or money

just a need to escape polluted skies grey,

hooked on adventure notions of unlimited dreams

they drained normality from their lives

created their own schemes,

 

discovered wisdom in haste;

realized those chains

now broken

were like free flowing water

leading to a bracing ocean

they chased.

 

Hitched from Avonmouth

to North Wales

with an endless thirst,

a cuppa seemed miles off

longing for hiss of mum's kettle

with lips pursed.

 

Waiting ages it was getting colder

with hippy bags slung across shoulder,

only lift was to Severn bridge

which they accepted with thanks

now passengers riding

under bright street lamps,

 

thought they'd catch traffic coming from Newport...

well we all know what happened to thought!

Life's never straightforward as they go along

with unflappable courage they waited five hours long,

but lift never came...

well they only had themselves to blame,

 

so pushing on across bridge

feeling like salmon

swimming up streams

with darkness approaching,

only comfort were car light

moon beams,

 

lingered one hour for lift to M50 at Ross On Wye

to take them back to M5 at Tewkesbury

this girl and guy,

but still no vehicle stopped for them

they felt marooned

these two loved ones,

 

so trekked through Newport onto bypass

then up to Ross On Wye,

finally getting a lift but going the wrong way

sadly ending up in Abergavenny

of all places

fifteen miles off bypass.

 

Managed to catch a lift

back to Ross On Wye,

had names taken for

being out at 2am

walking so late

under dark sky.

 

Ten minutes later got a ride to Birmingham

by now it was 4am

not quite a view of rising sun,

but morning would soon come

as they soldiered on tired with aching feet

not a word did they speak.

 

At around 8.30am

a coach stopped

driver said he'd give them a lift,

two hitchers were speechless

never expecting

a coach to stop,

 

Well! You've heard of five star hotels

this was a five star coach

with air conditioning,

carpets all round...

seats like armchairs

and smiles abound.

 

Driver gave them a lift

from Birmingham,

stopping off at services

bought them

a coffee each

before carrying on,

 

then dropped them off at Knutsford,

two teenagers that day

felt the world would be a better place

if there were more people that way

like the driver of

that luxury coach that day.

 

From Knutsford

two tired souls

walked about fifteen miles

a trip with no smiles

they wouldn't want

to repeat,

 

she with blisters did

nothing but complain –

but with all due respect

she was well within her rights

with no energy

to sustain,

 

two miles to go

and so they pushed on

hearing roar of traffic ringing in her ears

a body that was aching...

crying tears,

well some.

 

Twenty hours later

since they left Avonmouth

walked in front door and

dropped onto the couch,

his mum made them coffee and sandwiches

which they wolfed down in a hurry,

 

now nourished

they slipped into warm beds

where they swore they'd

hitchhike no more

and slept until Monday

this was a lesson for sure.

 

 

 

 

This is a rewrite of a piece I wrote last week,

I'm a lot happier with the layout.

I didn't want to get rid of the other layout

because I appreciate peoples comments

and didn't want to loose what they were

good enough to stop by and write.

Hoping this is okay with the editors.

 

Image by pixabay free images.