Gone But Not Forgotten (Ormeau Road)

On the city the shadow of history is nailed, as a warning to those whose beliefs have wailed through the ages, dividing the charters and pages of peace in the name of god. Lonesome I trod, a stranger to its streets and lands of light, drenched in the deep unflagging night, the stench of a nearby fight broke free as a bar door swung, it's hard to say who won as I shuffled by, with dreams in my hand and love in my eye, fixated on a girl I left behind. Past it's pristine parks of hope, and on towards the frayed rope roads and wispy lanes that twisted my brain as I tried to find my bearings, the night had found me lost but not uncaring. As time rained down and soaked the town, the floods it caused were soon to drown my sole endeavour, "It's hardly the weather" I laughed, and unfolded my umbrella "to be searching high and low, for an old flame yet to show, on a street she once had lived on long ago", still I waded on.

Just outside the city's reach, the horizon spoke of sun's first breach as I flitted light foot fore upon the kerb, I whispered songs of love in breath that dared to haunt the dead air laid so bare across the streets. The clouds that once flew high like kites, obscured the view and blocked the sights of the road names I strolled past, I trailed the houses long in the grass like a lion pines it's lover's den. The light romanced the rusty wren; it’s lonely song rang out as dawn broke free. I turned in my stride to see the city in glorious pride, unfold before my eyes. The clank and jingle of shop bells and early smells mingled; deep I was in concrete dingles, ethereal in lands with holy names. Still I trundled on.

Browbeat on my weary feet, I sank into the waves of heat the sun bore down. Dazed I frowned the corner round I turned, before I sparked upon that name, at last I found the house for which I came. I stood upon the garden's shore, and peered long at the stained-wood door, in my thoughts I dwelled forevermore as I sailed towards my fate. With every knock and every wait, my hopes turned to worries of being too late, until my mind was rife with pangs of hate. I wander as I ponder on what might have been in life, with a girl I often thought would be my wife. Softly down my tears go in the setting summer sun, my heart has lost the lust with which it flowed. Bode so well I dare to tell, the dreams and love I lost on Ormeau Road.