Hamilton Macrae - Just another life

It was in the heart of winter
when I was called to the river side
The night was dark the air was cold
the Clyde was at high tide.

Somewhere near the Casino
two young men had stripped to swim
accross the filthy mass of water
then they both dived in

When we arrived with sirens loud
and lights that cut the skyline
The lads were somewhere in the dark
splashing, shouting, crying

We rushed to the south side
and tore through a security fence
then ran with our medic bags to the quayside
hoping to find something that made some sense

I jemmied a lock off a seven foot steel gate
while a police woman called for firemen
We could hear a voice in the darkness
but it was drowned out by screeching sirens

Then all at once there he was, a cold and huddled youth
climbing, scrambling up slimy steps into the cold air
half laughing half choking unconcerned about his mate
I reached and grabbed his hand and pulled him clear

We wrapped a survival blanket round him
as he shiverred and shook with the cold
I looked into his eyes and saw a lad
barely eighteen years old

He never asked if his friend made it
he didn't seem to care
He was more concerned that he'd swam the Clyde
and had won his deadly dare.

We didn't find his mate in the water
though search boats looked all night
They found him 3 weeks later
a drowned and bloated sight

Just another life.....

Hamilton Macrae

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/just-another-life/