word journey
it's the damp of an african dawn,
the hard edge of sand on a desert sky
tea plantations in simmering sun,
the shining floor of a silent mosque,
it's dimsum chaos for eastern breakfast
or a coffee in a vienna...
it's a beach, on antigua on christmas day
or candlelit dinner at tamarind springs
in the lushness of tropical night.
or maybe curry for breakfast on ekor tabu
and swimming with fish in deep marine world.
it's the race of your heart when arrested
on blue, south china seas,
or sitting in snow on a dolomite peak.
trekking on glaciers followed by goats,
travel is sorting out plumbing in greece!
being held at gunpoint in sunshine
or being smothered in ticks in a soft irish wind.
it's crabs in the bath in brixham.
it's emotion in rio on corcovado
and cable car swinging up sugarloaf.
and it's the silence as you drift over cornwall
in a glider with silvertipped wings,
and it's too many people in the square in prague
and sick sulphur springs on st lucia.
it's a pack of wild dogs, hunting,
it's elephants. hippos. mud and silk waters
it's flying in light aircraft, over botswana
or the shock of paradise island in nassau.
and it's the simplon pass in spring!
it's the green flash as the sun goes down
or the necklace of lights over india at night.
it's being lost in athens, and signs all in greek
it's cowbells on hillsides in france.
or a white coral beach at sundown
it's mango swamps, caves of crystals, and bats
it's powerboat racing in dubai sun
it's avignon, rheims. genoa milan.
les arcs livigno bormio, and como
it's travelling in the guards van.
or the sleeper from euston.
it's arriving in london during the blitz
it's exploring torridon, ullapool, oban and mull
it's mcbraynes red funnels in a streaming grey mist..
or the the channel tunnel and lunch in france,
and the canals of amsterdam.
it can be skiing a glacier in august,
or maybe a cheese market in france
and visiting uncle bills grave on monte rosa.
or perhaps a log fire, in old black and white england
set high in the cameron highlands,
and it could be the horror of leeches
or cobwebs that have to be cut.
it's howler monkeys far in the distance
or riding camels over vast red sands,
and it's kilimanjaro against infinite sky...
or camping in wales with wild ponies for company
and it's collecting a puppy
or staying with friends. shopping in harrods
or watching changing the guard.
it's melaka, madeira, nairobi
orlando, sweetwaters and voi
it's buses and trains, aircraft, haycarts
minis and peugots triumphs and fiats
dhurries, dhows, skiffs and punts...
and dinghies
Pim Claridge