The face of heather

1. It was a freezing cold December morning,

one I’ll never forget,
their was a weather warning,

The forecaster said

there will be sleet, snow and black ice on the roads,
take extra care if you have to leave home.

I was travelling to work, as I do every day,

we go the same route
across the penine way,
through valleys and hills and narrow country lanes,
The surroundings were a beautiful white 
in the wintery haze.

As we approach cliff hangers bend,
a notorious spot for many tragic ends,
the bus slides on the ice, losing its back end
smashing through the barrier, we start to descend,
Tumbling and rolling
down the hillside 
bodies being thrown,
it was a frightening ride.
The screams, the anguish the blood and the pain, 
as this disaster was happening
we only had nature to blame.

We came to a halt everybody
quiet and still
in this smashed 
up bus, that just feel off the hill,
I look around and shout is anyone alive,
I hear a soft whisper somewhere nearby,
As I search through the debris, destruction and mess 
that little voice echoed, which I’ll never forget,
Through the wreckage, I find the girl, her blood covered face, she was so unwell,
She took my hand and said please stay,
My legs are trapped,
i cant die this way.

So I lay with her, in this coffin like bus,
trying to keep her warm from dawn til dusk.
The smell of death and carnage,
I felt so sick inside,
out of 27 people, 
only 2 had survived.

I’ll never forget the 
face of heather,
that tragic bus or 
the winter weather.