Lifes Drum
It was dark that night,
I remember joking about the car
That followed us, but it turned off.
We had our obligatory chat
At the gate, for only a few moments
Before I picked up my stuff.
I never heard them nor did i see them
But I felt them, with those first beats
of my heart in my throat.
My brain shut down and my mouth
Sealed itself shut, but my feet learned to fly.
As I ran the darkness got blacker
The pounding of my heart
Got stronger. I waited
For the sound of the gunshot
Or the touch of the hand on my shoulder
That would send me crashing
To the ground.
I felt the footsteps behind me
The door in front of me was locked.
The moon hid its light behind a cloud
Laughing.
The trees reached out to stop me but
My feet continued to fly
Through the dark.
Around the corner everything burst into
A bright light that shone from the verandah.
I looked for anyone, I found my voice deep
In my stomach and pulled it out with force,
"DDDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADDDDD".
A shadow appeared at the door, it was him
My knees sank to the wet grass and I pointed
The words were lost in the beat of my heart
And he ran to the rescue of my friend.
I could hear the pounding of feet on the driveway
The screech of tyres as the car pulled away
And dread took residence in my blood.
I ran to the corner and saw the body slumped under
The cold and pale glow of the streetlight.
My brain burst into life as a million images flashed
Before my eyes....And I ran.
She moved as I got there, she was fine
Just shaken up. The car was gone and a river of blood
Ran down my fathers head as he staggered back.
Material things come and go
A new car is parked in the garage now
And the rivers of blood have slowly dried
Our feet are still here to carry us through the day
And our hearts still beat to the rhythm
Of lifes drum. These are the important things.
I remember joking about the car
That followed us, but it turned off.
We had our obligatory chat
At the gate, for only a few moments
Before I picked up my stuff.
I never heard them nor did i see them
But I felt them, with those first beats
of my heart in my throat.
My brain shut down and my mouth
Sealed itself shut, but my feet learned to fly.
As I ran the darkness got blacker
The pounding of my heart
Got stronger. I waited
For the sound of the gunshot
Or the touch of the hand on my shoulder
That would send me crashing
I felt the footsteps behind me
The door in front of me was locked.
The moon hid its light behind a cloud
Laughing.
The trees reached out to stop me but
My feet continued to fly
Through the dark.
Around the corner everything burst into
A bright light that shone from the verandah.
I looked for anyone, I found my voice deep
In my stomach and pulled it out with force,
"DDDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADDDDD".
A shadow appeared at the door, it was him
My knees sank to the wet grass and I pointed
The words were lost in the beat of my heart
And he ran to the rescue of my friend.
I could hear the pounding of feet on the driveway
The screech of tyres as the car pulled away
And dread took residence in my blood.
I ran to the corner and saw the body slumped under
The cold and pale glow of the streetlight.
My brain burst into life as a million images flashed
Before my eyes....And I ran.
She moved as I got there, she was fine
Just shaken up. The car was gone and a river of blood
Ran down my fathers head as he staggered back.
Material things come and go
And the rivers of blood have slowly dried
Our feet are still here to carry us through the day
And our hearts still beat to the rhythm
Of lifes drum. These are the important things.
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Thanks, glad you liked it. The moon is a powerful object, sometimes it can be so gentle and other times cold and sinister. That is what makes it so great!
Thanks for your comment.
Ash