Life's Towpath

by Dave Dunn

Tuesday 7th August 2012 2:04 am (first posted Monday 23rd July 2012 8:21 pm)

 

We walked the canal towpath in a gentle summer haze,

watching a lock leak water that seemed to go on for days,

our collie was running ahead and kept turning to watch us dawdle,

but we were in no hurry then as time seemed to present no hurdle...

 

It was the mid eighties and we were just two lovers, with one dog,

marriage was fine as we were, holding hands with no reason to jog.

but time is sneaky and goes fast, no matter how slow we walk,

and ten years and 3 children later, we had serious reasons to talk...

 

But back on the towpath it's peaceful, idyllic many might say,

so I keep a picture of the leaking lock gate which we saw that day,

the gush of water hinted at time's passage, which then we didn't know,

would rob us of time to spend together, no retirement in our afterglow...

 

Yes still I cherish those memories, diamond days we felt sure would last,

and though I only have pictures, in my mind's eye nothing has passed,

perhaps I can find a canal boat, and live out my days there alone,

for our collie died some years later & my love's heart went with a groan...

 

The birds are filling the soundscape, with a backdrop of water's gush,

the over head trees break the sunlight into dapples shaped by wind rush,

and the gravel we crunch under our feet, adds percussion to the song,

if ever I get that canal boat, I'll live out my days there, however long...

 

©Rhumour

July 23rd, 2012