Notes from a
TGO Widower…
by Ron Griffiths
This contribution comes from my patient chauffeur
The wet and the wild
Home to the child
Who seeks the next step
On a trail with a ‘sac,
Not looking back
Pictures to take
Some will be kept
Posted online
The others just filed
It’s a venerable road
Or so we are told
This rut in the grass
Where the water runs past
Choosing your footing
Constantly looking
For a safe place to step so you won’t get too wet
It’s no place for the bold
Day’s end in a tent
Battered and bent
Wet gloves and socks
Tired of rocks
In the path and the stream
Not part of a team
On your own in this game
A moth to a flame
All your energies spent
Hello fellow fool
Following rules
From A to B
It’s not just me
Home on their back
Impossible sack
Just for the craic
For a day or two
Fun can be cruel
Plod and stumble
A long day as you fumble
For malt-loaf scraps
In the side of your pack
“Fine Dining” indeed
When you’re feeling in need
Of a calorie boost
Still miles from your roost
And the bed where you’ll tumble
Alone – there’s no crowd
As you whimper out loud
With the pain in your heel
And you know you can feel
That the flesh is on fire
But still you’re inspired
To do just one more mile
‘Til you sit on a stile
Knackered – but proud
One boot at a time
Yet another climb
There’s a view at the top
Or if cloudy – there’s not!
Prints here from others
All wanting their mothers
As the blisters have burst
And the socks have been cursed
For rubbing through skin
In so little time
One day to go
You’re getting slow
It’s downhill from here
You can almost taste the beer
As you sleep on the road
Still walking with your load
That newly learned gait
That keeps the weight
Off the blisters that burst
2 days ago!
Why do you do it?
Put yourselves through it?
You’ll take days to mend
There’s no prize to defend
You’re safe, at the end
Making new friends
Sharing your tales
Of the hills and the vales
You’ll see them next year (Oh shit!)
Hee-hee, very good! You'll have to get your hubby along next year.
ReplyDeleteIf you fancy a little training walk you should come on the LDWA Two Crosses Circuit on 23rd March - not far from you so no excuse!. It will be fun. Honest.
JJ
Thank you for your chuckle John! Would love to have him along, but sadly it won't be able to happen.
DeleteAlready booked up for the 23rd - have a great time doing the Two Crosses Circuit.
Lindy -
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for posting, I enjoyed it immensely.
If you (or rather he) will forgive the liberty, I've played with the drafting in a couple of places where the metre caused me difficulty when I tried reading it aloud, and I offer these up for consideration. If you (or he) don't like my suggestions, please just delete this comment :-)
The wet and the wild
Home to the child
Who seeks the next step
On a trail with a ‘sac,
Not looking back
Pictures to take
Some will be kept
Posted online
The others just filed
It’s a venerable road
Or so we are told
This rut in the grass
Where the water runs past
Choosing your footing
Constantly looking
For a safe place to step so you won’t get too wet
It’s no place for the bold
Day’s end in a tent
Battered and bent
Wet gloves and socks
Tired of rocks
In the path and the stream
Not part of a team
On your own in this game
A moth to a flame
All your energies spent
Hello fellow fool
Following rules
From A to B
It’s not just me
Home on their back
Impossible sack
Just for the craic
For a day or two
Fun can be cruel
Plod and stumble
All day long as you fumble
For malt-loaf scraps
In the side of your pack
“Fine Dining” indeed
When you’re feeling in need
Of a calorie boost
Still miles from your roost
And the bed where you’ll tumble
Alone – there’s no crowd
As you whimper out loud
With the pain in your heel
And you know you can feel
That the flesh is on fire
But still you’re inspired
To do just one more mile
‘Til you sit on a stile
Knackered – but proud
One boot at a time
Once more you must climb
There’s a view at the top
Or if cloudy – there’s not!
Prints here from others
All wanting their mothers
As the blisters have burst
And the socks have been cursed
For rubbing through skin
In so little time
One day to go
You’re getting slow
But you’re nearing the coast
Where success you will toast
As you sleep on the road
Still hefting your load
With the newly learned gait
That keeps off the weight
From the blisters that burst
2 days ago!
Why do you do it?
Put yourselves through it?
You’ll take weeks to mend
There’s no prize to defend
You’re safe, at the end
Making new friends
Sharing your tales
Of the hills and the vales
You’ll see them next year (Oh shit!)