Going to work

The front door closes.
I exit and the sounds of morning greet me.
Birds chirping and singing
yet its still dark.
A kind of navy early morning sky.
Cars pass by one by one.
It's still early and the real hustle of the morning
has yet to get into its flow.

The shop just beside me has already opened.
People are already inside and
buying god knows what, papers, lunch,
cigarettes and anything else they need
for the day.

I walk on at a slow pace, step by step taking in
each sound wiping sleep from my eyes.
I stretch my face muscles and twist
my neck around till i hear the little crack that
eases a little restlessness.

I come to the road and  there isn't
any real traffic.
I decide to go left and not cross
till i get to the designated crossing.
Had a few scares in the past
plus I'm not fully awake.
Awake enough to be playing dodge
or chicken with early morning drivers.
Who are more than likely not fully
awake yet like myself.
Imagine the guards asking at the scene of a near miss
"well what happened"
If we were both being honest we'd start by saying.
"Well i didn't see him. It was a bit dark and he came
so quick and I'm still half asleep but I'm ok"
Ha f..kin ha, as if you'd get two people
to be that brutally honest at the same time.
Maybe I'm being a bit harsh on peoples honesty
but where does my harshness come from.
You have to take that into consideration
or not
as i think and walk on.

I cross the road and one person passes by walking,
probably going to work like me i guess.  
As i begin to speed up a bit i start  to notice more.
Not just the cars but the colours,
the types, the people in them
and even some of the reg numbers.

Another man passes on the opposite side
walking what looks like a big collie dog.
The man is wearing tight running pants
and a high vis jacket but if you ask me
it looks like the dog needs the walk more.
His tongue is hanging out and the man is moving at what
could be described as trot or a canter, he's definitely
been walking this road a long time
it just seems like the norm to him,
well that is what I'm thinking as i pass.

Then as i turn the bend
the lights of the few buildings
that are actually opened for business
catch my eye and my mind takes note of
the names on the tops of the buildings.
Offices mostly,
some people really do get in early
before the usual nine O clock thing.
I know its early and its January
but come on.
Ah maybe they are just cleaning before work begins
as i have to do every morning.

Two women are walking at a brisk pace on the opposite
side now and i start to pick up my pace to be directly
across from them on the other side of the road.
Me thinking "yeah i can walk like that too"
I'm catching but I'm pushing it,
its odd there is probably more people out than cars.
They're either going for a walk before bed
or out walking before they go to work.
The people of this world have become so much more
health and fitness conscious.
The odd thing i think to myself is that its the same old story
as the strong get stronger and the rich get richer thing.
It would seem to me that its only the people who were
health and fitness conscious are just getting more into it.
I don't know if the other side of the spectrum are doing the opposite
but i hope not i hope the good things are rubbing off
more as people have enough to worry about,
well adults anyway.
Teenagers will always have problems
as long as they are teenagers.
its your mind getting your conscience
ready for life ahead i think.

I cross the next traffic lights and head on up the hill,
looking over the wild brown river as it roars on
after the last few nights of rain, it really leaves a sandy
silty brown colour on the river but you see that foam like
ripple across the top as it flows letting you know the water
is fine and pure its just the river bed washing down along
on the undercurrent
Thoughts cross my mind, like how free the river is,
never having to think, feel or do anything,
just be the river and flow along.
Maybe we should be the same just keep going and
let nature take us on its natural course.
Never questioning what should be.
As humans we do though.

I take the left and the short cut up
through an estate i know well.
I look back to see are the the two women
catching up but there is no sign.
I'm too quick or they've turned another direction.

As i pass by a tree where i see a little bird
every morning just before eight
perched on the same branch.
The bird whistles different whistles
and i try respond and for a moment
it seems like I'm communicating
I wish or maybe i am who knows.
I head onwards through a gate that
leads to a small lane and i stop
to light up a cigarette that i have
rolled before i have left.
By the time i reach the top of the lane
which leads to a main road i stop; look
and wait; for my chance to cross.
i cross and start to walk on and
after about nine or ten paces i look back.
To my amazement who walks by only
the two women only they haven't crossed
they just continue walking up the road.
They have done the long route
and caught up with me and i have been

pushing it and here is me thinking
that walking by yourself you can go further
because your not talking or stopping.
Ha! yeah right! they probably have to go home
wake kids, shower and get ready for work and
me I'm going in for two hours and going home
to bed for a while before i go back in
for four more hours this evening.
Yeah i really push it.

Ha.