Little gaps
I moved to pretty place so quaint
An attractive market town,
It got too crowded where I was
Fed up with feeling down.
The village expanded and overgrew
With people insincere;
It became a worry to walk alone
Without concern and fear.
No longer could I walk through town
The place had got too dark,
With crime just around the corner
And drugs in every park.
The quiet streets did overspill
The concrete blocks did rise
People with different backgrounds –
We had to compromise.
A community disrupted,
With scaffolding, mortar, cranes.
It didn’t take long to work out
That it would never be the same.
Houses, flats and tall blocks
And tiny gaps got filled;
It cut into the greenbelt land
With so many of new builds.
The place was overrun with rats
The builders were bad news.
An appointment made got harder,
There were so many queues.
We couldn’t get to town on foot,
transport measures were cut,
Footpaths were non existent
And many shops had shut.
And traffic overflowed the roads
With frustration everywhere,
To get from A to B
Was getting hard to bear.
It hadn’t always been that way
Where I was born and bred.
Wanted to swap this concrete jungle
For Greenery and scenery instead!
I have heard things have improved,
Put birthplace on the map!
But still thousands of people
Come in to fill the gaps.
Many months I looked South-East
Through pretty country-side.
So much space and lovely views
It wasn’t hard to decide!
I needed to find a haven
With some tranquility.
Good schools and infrastructure
And better amenities.
No queues, traffic blues or over dues
Just Bluebells and blossom trees.
The roads are clear – it’s warmer here!
Filled with wildlife, butterflies and
bees.
And here within the first few years
An easier life is made,
The friendly face and atmosphere;
And even made the grade!
The friendly face, the easy pace,
A better way of life.
From one village to another
Away from all the strife.
A 'good morning' with a smile
On a bright and sunny day.
A far cry from what I used to know
And here I want to stay.
Ten years of no regrets
Although this market town has altered.
Plans going ahead but much opposed
This little town will falter.
The townsfolk will get overstretched
Doctors and schools won't cope.
We can only keep our fingers crossed
And sign the petition in hope.
Houses, flats and new builds,
Three-car families perhaps.
It seems hundreds of people
Are going to fill the little gaps....
Copyright Linda Lawrence
4th May 2016 (For my dad)
