The Waterways

We’ve navigated the old canals

Since the roads were blocked with cars,

And we were stuck when the highway truck

Rolled over the top of ours,

They poured a layer of bitumen

Across the roofs of them all,

Then crushed them under a steam roller

Until they were flat, and small.

They didn’t bother to pull them out

The ones who were trapped inside,

Just wrote them off the accounting books

And made a note that they’d died,

They needed to halve the ones who lived

Or the earth would sputter in space,

Spinning across that great divide

With the death of the human race.

But we got out, and we made a break

For the fields and the old canals,

And found a deserted barge afloat

Thanks to the help of pals,

We got some paint and we cleaned it up,

Made it all right to roam,

Then once inside it was quite a ride

And started to feel like home.

Most of the waterways were clear

With some of them overgrown,

I’d send Gwen Darling back to the rear

To steer while the weeds were mown,

I’d scythe them out of the way ahead

And steer the barge through the gap,

Then rest at night by a harvest moon

With Darling Gwen on my lap.

I’d bag a hare on a winter’s night

And steal the milk from a cow,

The earth was dying, but we survived

And Gwen kept asking me how?

‘We’re going back to the way it was

Before computers and such,

Before the Banks had us by the throat

When love was lived by a touch.’

So still we wander across the land

As they did in the days of old,

Those ancient barges, covered in dust

But laden, carrying coal,

There’s a merry fire on a metal hearth

And an oven, full of a goose,

And a woman’s wiles, to gladden my heart

As her stays are coming loose.

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

A very good story told. I wanted to know more and read more. I like the feel of real life and real thoughts. I like the thoughts and the strong ending.Thank you David for sharing the excellent tale.
Coyote

[TPK Stories]

Loved where this story went...

"So still we wander across the land
As they did in the days of old,...

...And a woman's wiles to gladden my heart
As her stays are coming loose."

[guy drori]

Almost felt like reading a summary of a short story. I expected a different ending, yet liked the one you chose as well.

[Valentine]

This one took me by surprise. With the death of the human race I was expecting a gruesome ending, instead I got a warm surprise. Bet he helped her get that girdle off. Valentine

[NY Duodu]

Nice one sir David, I'm still learning to use the meter. As usual, this is a flawless write. I love the story and the rhyth and the smooth choice of words. Well done!
~Laury

[D Connolly]

I don't know how you came by such talent but I really love how you tell these stories with poetry. I really like them. It's like going to a different world for a moment