Poetic Pause II

THE MAN OF GOODWILL

The musical appreciation night has ended

Partakers leave the country cottage

Pylon lights are non-existent

Turn left – turn right – down the road

And you will find the lights of civilisation

Father and daughter leave in darkness

In the car – turning right

They forget the left-turn first

Disoriented having made the wrong choice

They drive as though on a better road

But alas – on a lesser track

Thirty miles an hour is ok for the road of left then right

But the road of right-only can’t handle this supersonic speed

Travelling on down – headlights all there is –

Turn a sudden corner veering to the left

Do not see the ramp to hedgerow

And up they go – ramp-grass leading to hedgerow

Of solid ground – the car ditches – wheels spin in the air

And it’s bottom rests on said – peak

“Daddy! Daddy!” Cries the child

“All right darlin’?” He questions back

Opening the car door as though that indicates – go

He steps out and disappears below

Another “Daddy! Daddy! – Are you alright?” –

He forgets that hedgerows have height

But no bones broken – no heart attack

He helps his daughter from the car in the pitch black

What now? – the teenager offers to go find a house

To enlist the help of others

Walking in the dark she finds a house and lights

A dog in the doorway growls it’s disapproval

The courageous child is not daunted

“Nice dog – it’s alright”

Friends of the friends who held the musical night

Are glad to help the lost-ones home

We shall leave the car ’til morning 

A contractors crane is sought to lift the car to the road

They do little things to help the contractor

And leave him a ten-pound note for lunch

Home safe and sound the car undamaged

They wait to receive the bill

But never hear from the contractor again

Obviously a Man of Good Will