fear

I remember the first time i saw a 'rag and bone man'. I was terrified, which is unjust because they are friendly chaps who used to give kids balloons for pieces of scrap. I guess i grew up in a time when they were dying out. Due to this i just didn't understand what he was all about. I'll never forget the how the cry of 'RAA-BO' chilled my blood. Looking back now its a fond memory. : )

A cold, grey, drawn and dreary day

Silence, stillness, snow starts to lay

A glum child looks out of his window

Nothing to do, nowhere to go

Chin rested on his small white hands

Dreaming, of exploring new lands

Stuck in a trance, silence and gloom

His only world, a large empty room

A piercing cry chills his blood

Haunting, loud, expelling all good

“RAA-BO” comes the despairing call

Sounding futile, yet heard by all

Next, he hears shuffling feet

Scraping along his barren street

Scared stiff the child watches the road

A cart creaks into view, shaky and old

“RAA-BO”, the cry comes again

making the hairs stand, and then

the source is seen, a ghastly sight

rags for clothes and eyes with no light

he slowly looks up, their eyes lock

the boy turns white, rigid with shock

This is the day, the boys fear began

Of the age old, unknown, rag and bone man.