Sue Vincent’s Thursday prompt #Writephoto

thaw

Memories of an Exmoor boyhood.

I’ll tell you a story you won’t believe,

of the dreadful Winter of sixty-three,

when for three long months only white was seen.

apart from the waves and the rushing stream,

country and cities covered in snow,

no colour but white wherever you go,

the tarmac roads unsullied by tyres,

families huddled round smoking fires,

waves stood frozen at the waters edge,

with icicles hanging from every ledge,

while up on the moors where the snowdrifts rise,

their tall peaks reaching upward to the skies,

no fodder for the flocks of sheep,

frozen and buried under snow so deep,

with no road transport villagers said,

how can we live without milk or bread,

the peoples plight was soon relayed,

and a plan decided for their aid,

the only way to ease their plight,

was by using a helicopter’s flight,

daily trips were undertaken,

so the country folk were not forsaken,

on country roads many cars were buried,

but the snow and cold would not be hurried,

for twelve long weeks the cold steel hand,

firmly grasped our once fair land,

till one day late into the Spring,

the Sun had a re-awakening,

when Mother Earth the sun’s rays felt,

the covering began to melt,

the roads and trains were free again,

the melting helped by Springtime rain,

towns and villages now were free,

to lead their lives quite normally,

although the sun’s rays always burn,

we wait in dread for the cold return.

4 Comments

Filed under History, Self compositions, Uncategorized

4 responses to “Sue Vincent’s Thursday prompt #Writephoto

  1. Brilliant, Bob! I remember the winter of ’63. It was no better in Yorkshire…

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  2. Pingback: Thaw – Bobby Fairfield #writephoto | Sue Vincent's Daily Echo

  3. I remember ’63 as well. We still trudged to school and I had extra woolly socks and jumper to keep me warm on the walk. We had a coal fire in the lounge, but no central heating in those days, Extra blankets on the beds, and hot water bottles tucked under the sheet. with hot chocolate/cocoa/ovaltine/horlicks at bedtime.

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  4. Pingback: Photo prompt round-up – Thaw #writephoto | Sue Vincent's Daily Echo

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