Journey of Words

Listening

It wasn’t the light that woke meIt was the absence of trafficSo used had I become to the lorriesClattering acrossThe misfitting manhole coverOn that arterial routeLinking warehouses to motorwayIt seemed rhythmicMetal machine musicNow mutedThen the lightScouring every cornerOf the ill-curtained hotel roomSpinning its short wavelength beamsRound the wallsStretching and pulling shadowsIn rapid rotationBlueBlueBlueBlueThen the heavy… 

It wasn’t the light that woke me
It was the absence of traffic
So used had I become to the lorries
Clattering across
The misfitting manhole cover
On that arterial route
Linking warehouses to motorway
It seemed rhythmic
Metal machine music

Now muted

Then the light
Scouring every corner
Of the ill-curtained hotel room
Spinning its short wavelength beams
Round the walls
Stretching and pulling shadows
In rapid rotation

Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue

Then the heavy heavy knock
From across the street
And the shout

Armed police officers!
Open the door
Open the door
Armed police officers!

Splintering of wood

I lay on my back
Holding my breath
Staring at the ceiling

Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue

~

n.b. NapoWriMo 2024 Day 21 prompt: colour.

CLP 21/04/2024

The author

Chris Perry

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