The romance of pedestrian gate D

We’re at pedestrian gate D waiting for our friends.

We do this every year. Meet them as they get off

the shuttle bus so we can help carry their stuff.

I like to sit here and look at all the strangers

who are so excited to be arriving at the festival.

The driver of the shuttle bus knows

that a few of the people he’s taking to pedestrian gate D

are going to have the best weekend of their lives.

I like to watch strangers reunited with people they love

to me those faces are meaningless but look at them

unable to contain their excitement of seeing each other

that feeling of ‘there’s that face again!’

Hundreds and hundreds of people

carrying rucksacks of clothes and beer

hoping someone else has got a mallet

everyone about to put their tents up

and then down again a few days later.

We’ve learnt how useful it is not to lose

the little bag to put the tent pegs in

and out of nowhere, after all the faces of strangers

suddenly there’s that face again

James Grieve has got his hat on

there's Kate’s campervan

Paddy’s got a tinnie.

Then it’s another festival. Another year

probably. It’s hard to tell

but we’re at pedestrian gate D again

and we are so excited to see them. We’re waiting

and waiting and waiting until

there’s that face again.

It’s like switching on the telly

and seeing Lisa and Bart

or Gary Lineker or the BBC weathermap

and James Grieve has got his hat on

there's Kate’s campervan

Paddy’s got a tinnie.