On the odd occasion; as one does, when in reflective mood,
I sometimes, quietly turn...
and look back down the long, and winding road
I set out upon, in younger days, that led to who knows where...
and, always... far back down that road...
the same sweet ghost is standing there.
A memory...
a gentle echo from the time when I was young;
It was at some obscure school dance, our star-crossed love affair began.
A mutual infatuation...
it truly was love at first sight;
lost, and breathless; in each others arms we danced into the night.


There was no timorous courtship here...
no platitudes; we were in love;
both lost, adrift, abandoned by reality...
no need to prove
the smallest thing... not me to her, or her to me... we were content;
wrapped in each others love... inseparable...
Oh yes, this thing was meant
to happen.
Caroline... no English rose... more Gaelic there, I'd say;
with tumbling Auburn hair, and pale white skin... she took my breath away;
and her eyes were beautiful;
Chatoyant... the word to use;
their colour varied with the light...
violet... grey; then green... then blue.


We were together for just slightly less than two short years, alas...
Filled with kisses, cuddles; gentle petting...
all the things that passed
in those days, as extreme... exciting...
sweet caress, and exploration
of each other;
innocent these days... no thought of consummation
of our love, as they do now, with scant concern of the effect
their actions may have on each other; we just called it true respect.
Respect...
all button fumbling, and a timid hand inside her shirt;
The *Giggle strip above her stocking top...
the mysteries of her skirt.


Then the phone call came one day... her broken-hearted, tear-stained voice...
Her father's work had moved away; she had to go... she had no choice.
But where?
to South Australia... so far?... how long?...
and when?... so soon?
Our world had just come crashing down; our shattered dreams... about us strewn.
Caroline; Love of my young life... I will always wait for you;
"We won't be coming back," she said... "You're better off with someone new."
Two days hence, we kissed goodbye, and promised we would always write...
and then; so bravely fighting tears, I watched her Taxi out of sight.


And true; the letters came and went, but distance... soon, the heart defeats;
and eventually they stopped...
our love had run its course... complete.
But, that was all so long ago; another world, far down the years;
the first time someone truly broke my heart... these were the first, true tears
for love...
a lesson to be learnt, of how the dreams can slip away...
I fondly think of Caroline, and wonder where she is today.
It's probable she's married, with a brood of children round her knee;
all golden, in the Southern sun...
I wonder... does she think of me
sometimes?
So long ago... so far away... those glorious days we knew;
I wonder, are her eyes still magic...
violet... grey; then green... then blue?

************

For those unaware of the term;

The *Giggle Strip is the three inches of naked thigh between the stocking top and what was, in those days, the "Out of Bounds" area.