January 28th, 2022Local Lines

The enemy

An inverted wooden-planked fruit box
plonked on a central sturdyish wooden plank
bolted at either end to smaller cross-planks

That’s a lot of planking – and there’s more
In front of the box sits a closer-planked
small wooden crate (for the co-pilot option)

and further ahead a wooden axle
manoeuvrable courtesy of ball bearings
with a cast iron wheel at either end

Back wheels are pram and slick
but due to the rusty front wheels
the billy cart is a clanker

From main perch point grab the reins
to permit pull-style steering and now
accept a brother’s push from behind

Absorb the jarring bounce as you hit
each crack and uneven footpath block
Relish downward momentum. Yee ha!

Pray you strike no uphill pedestrians
requiring rough nature strip detour
and application of rear brake –

crisis of wood, metal, concrete –
sparks – and loss of shoe leather
in front rider’s skidding heels

Even if you get a clear run
look out for the aproned figure
of frizzy-haired Lordis Lady

charging down her rocky front path
stirring spoon raised above her head
shrieking shrieking shrieking

Bill Wootton