I guess I was 6 or 7 when I realised sunglasses don’t only block out the sun. In the 70’s they hid a multitude of emotional and real scars from domestic abuse. Travelling in a blue A1 double decker bus from Kilmarnock to Saltcoats every other summer was fun for kids but wasn’t all about sightseeing for adults. If you need support, reach out to the many agencies who can support and make you whole again.

Sunglasses

Catching the A1 bus, might have been five of us

A big blue bus, with an upstairs too, with built in ashtrays and built in view

Mother with sunglasses on, but inside a bus

I’m driving from upstairs, so I try not to make a fuss

But inside a bus, and its not even sunny inside or out

But I just keep on driving while I consider my doubt

On the way to Saltcoats, a kinda family cruise

Searching for some sun, hide from the rain and hide a bruise

More witness protection than sun protection, must be at least ten folk in this house

Uncles, aunties, brothers, sisters, cousins everyone apart from maws spouse

Harms way is mentioned a lot, or being out of it if I heard right

Backed on to the railway, but It’ll be just for a few nights

The sun will come out for a day or so, it’s the Kilie fair season

At least it will provide the wearer of sunglasses with a believable reason

I climb over the bridge to watch train after train after train go by

While mums on the sand, with both aunties and they all cry

Adventures for me near an abattoir, running about over the dunes

Sight seeing on the beach, picking welks, we look like the Broons

It’s a week or so until the sun splits the sky

Maws skins all tanned, and there’s a normal skin colour around her eye

I can see glimpses of a smile starting to return

Whatever drove us to Saltcoats, seems less of a concern

In her element with a tan, smelling of coconut, as the week passes on

She just looks like the rest of the maws with their sunglasses on

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R G Robb © 2021