Bob Blackwell - An Early Memory

An Early Memory


In rural Wales,
a dry stone wall,
used up tyres,
two in front, two at rear.
To steer a small pram wheel,
brake, a long steel pole.

In this car Dai and I have travelled far.
One day not going fast, Dai hears a hiss,
“We’ve got a flat,
Bob hop off and see to it”
I pretend to open door and scramble down.

I kneel beside a wheel,
“Yep its flat, it’s got a hole,
I can see right through.
We’ll have to change.”

“Hang on I’ll brake.” shouts Dai.
He leaps up on the long steel pole,
pulling down hard, he cries
“Braking, braking, braking”.

I give a scream as the dry stone wall begins to fall,
our motor car breaks down upon my head.

My small grey shirt and shorts, become blood red.
I cry out “Mum”!
Dai runs off shouting
“Bloody hell, bloody hell,
Oh! Bloody hell”.

On my very nearly four year old legs,
I stagger back to grandma’s house.
Arriving there, on seeing me, my mother screamed.
“Bob, Bob what have you done”?

“Our car broke down and fell on me!
My head is sore now!
Mum can I have some cake to make me better”?

Bob Blackwell

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/an-early-memory/