Bitter-Sweet

                                                                                               Brenda Bryant

COLOR CARNIVAL

http://colorcarnivalmeme.blogspot.com/2010/06/color-carnival-52.html

BITTER-SWEET

A 'sweet' idea for a birthday! Cup-cakes coloured brightly.

Each proclaiming an aptitude, and chosen very rightly.

Each adjective started with 'F' for they were all for Fay.

She was becoming fifty.  This was her special day.

The 'bitter' part? Well, we all knew that, as the days went past,

Fay would leave the party. This one was her last.

*

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WITHOUT A HITCH!

Hitch-hiking! Do you remember?

Do you, too, recall a time

When we launched ourselves out on the highway,

With never a thought of crime?

When nobody raised an eyebrow

As we headed out the door!

Not even Mum expressed concern;

She didn't say 'Are you sure?'

We stood beside the highway

Giving cars a smiling glance

Not ever realising

We were taking quite a chance!

Of course, foul murders happened,

But no-one would murder us.

So no-one thought to question

And no-one thought to fuss.

And so it was lightheartedly

Each raised a hopeful thumb.

We were filled with girlish excitement

Wondering what would come.

And something always came along,

A limousine or truck,

Maybe a good-looking driver,

With a little bit of luck.

Most often married couples

Out for a casual ride,

Would slow down and invite us in,

And we'd merrily jump inside.

It was almost motorised roulette,

An exciting game of chance.

In such a fashion, blithely,

We 'hitched' to the South of France,

The Isle of Wight and Scotland

And places far and wide.

And now it is forbidden;

That freedom is denied.

The world has made such progress

It's leaving us behind,

But, somehow, it's less carefree

Less guileless and less kind.

And I'm glad I lived in my day

When a girl could thumb a ride

In freedom and security

All over the countryside.

The nineteen-fifties were boring,

That's what they like to say,

But we were having a great time!

I'm glad I'm not young today.

*