I would always wear earphones
when I\'m walking,
listening to the radio
and my music,
while making my way
along the street.
The chatter of the DJ\'s
and the radio tunes
becoming my soundtrack,
I\'d feel like I was
starring in the
opening scenes
of my very own movie.
I used to joke that my
legs wouldn\'t work
without my earphones.
But with my music
I could walk for miles.
I would put my earphones in
and set off, my feet beating
the pavement in time
to the music,
clicking my fingers,
as I briskly walked along.
One day, as I set off on a walk,
marching along.
I reached into my pocket
for my earphones.
I swore under my breath.
My pocket was empty.
I\'d forgotten them.
I could have gone back home
but I knew that if I did
then the pull of the sofa
would be too strong
and my intentions of
a walk would go out the window.
Fuming and annoyed,
I stropped down the street,
in angry stomps,
cursing my forgetfulness.
I debated how far I should go,
on this tune-less silent stroll.
Maybe half-way, three-quarters,
before turning back.
In future I would keep my earphones
in my coat pocket.
My anger subsided as I went on,
and I started noticing the sounds
all around me.
A couple walking by, sharing a joke,
laughing at the punchline,
a helicopter thrumming overhead.
a dog barking at it\'s owner to throw the ball,
ice-cream van chimes ringing out
from a near-by street,
a man across the road,
wearing shorts despite the cold,
whistling to himself as he walked.
These days when I go for a walk
I leave my earphones behind,
my wonderful soundtrack is
the world around me
and all that\'s in it.