General   (General discussion, talk about anything.)

AUTOBIOGRAPHY


Part Two:

1969-1980

1.

Remembering the white snow - fallen heavy in the night and the path up to where the papers were delivered
going up to the Green and seeing her house from the back alley
seeing her house every morning - every morning every Friday afternoon
hearing the love songs we never shared - over the bridge and going to
school in the dark - taking the Financial Times to Bruce Taylor and Dougie Bland
seeing Venus at dusk and not seeing her for half a year - another girl
wanting me down on the cricket field - drinking coffee at Jimmy's house
when his mum and dad were at work
victory again through the gate and down the private road leaving them
all in my wake
on the train to Wolverhampton packed with Liverpool fans listening to their bragging but thinking of her somewhere at home - somewhere
without me
the end coming slowly as the days pass - Miss Todd leaving a massive void when she left
the last day coming over the fallow field and stopping to look
back

2.

in Boystown and eating toast from the cardboard box - Sir Norman sitting with an hangover in the tiny office
autumn on Parsons Walk - catching the bus home and meeting Philip
for the first time on the top deck
leaves falling like my memories though not fading - and pangs at evening
the Commercial public house and steak pie and pickled onions with a half of red bitter - too young to be drinking beer
getting the flu in-between Christmas and the new year - lying in bed in the dark
seeing her buying Please Don't Go by Donald Peers in the musty record
shop
wanting to speak but not brave enough
playing my first records in my tiny box room bedroom
feeling the heavy summer draw closer to its ending - something on my mind - something I have no control over

3.

in Jean Morris's shop listening to gossip and talk
hearing the news and feeling my heart fracture - not wanting to go back after dinner
wondering wondering - going with Tim to watch Emerson Lake and Palmer - our Pam selling programmes with Sandra
on Crantock beach - the blue Atlantic at my feet - thirsty coming back to the tent - drinking outside the Old Albion
passing Dawlish and not sleeping on the overnight train
getting typsy on Sandeman's Port - outside the Clarence on Christmas Eve
first hearing Tony Hooper and getting drunk in the Floral Hall
missing the last train home and waking in a railway carriage at dawn
wondering what she is doing and where she may be - remembering
thinking it should have been her walking past the midnight cafe with
me
seeing Venus again at dusk - the night blue like a
diamond
tasting beer on the summer solstice - missing the coach to meet the Blackburn girls and going back home early
walking on Douglas promenade with the sun at my back - disorientated
hearing the news and seeing Summerland burn - wanting to go and
help
going over the winter road in Phil's mini - the night pulling us back to
Oswaldtwhistle - Jupiter in the night sky - Jupiter pulling us back
taking time to say goodbye - her spirit coming back as spring rises over
Billinge Hill

4.

winter - another winter of discontent
Dad making tea when I'm on short time - reading James Herbert at night
Linda giving me the glad eye and breaking all the rules - playing Yes It Is
thinking of what might have been but wasn't
getting the keys to the old house - the little kitchen at the back
not remembering how I got home after drinking all day with Johnnie
going to Alan Smith's party on boxing night on my own
on my own and not thinking about who I was supposed to be thinking of
not remembering bringing in the new year
going to the old house the night before - not wanting to go where I had to go
the day dawning and the cherry blossom at the bottom of the lane
the cherry blossom scattered in the street the day after -
the day after the day
before


Jarvo 2021