HIT AND RUN

Inspired by the movie 'Que la Bete Meure'

 Arriving home in a terrible fright

I struggle out of the car

And into the hall to turn on the light,

Before heading straight to the bar.

Trying to steady my staggering gait

As the room spins over the door.

Next moment I'm in a bewildered state

To find myself sprawled on the floor.

My memory's fighting with the booze

To remember what happened tonight,

When past my window the ambulance crews

Race amid blue flashing light.

My arm is hurting, there's blood on my shirt

And a frightening sense of doom,

When suddenly I know I've hurt

Someone out there in the gloom.

Slowly the pieces fall into place,

I recall the sickening thud

As a young girl's horribly broken face

Bounced from my screen to the mud.

Split second decision - I'd had to escape

As I dreaded what I might see.

Imagine the mess her blood would make

And the effect it could have on me!

So I'd raced off with my foot to the floor,

Praying that no one had seen,

For my misdemeanour I was sure

Would cost me every bean.

But now grave doubts are setting in,

As the fog clears from my brain,

And so I go to the fridge for a tin

To obscure the thoughts again.

But it doesn't work and my flesh starts to creep

As pictures in my mind

Begin to make me shudder and weep.

That child out there could have been mine.

So in a desperate bid to forget,

I go into the lounge

To switch on the TV set,

But catch the end of news round.

They're appealing for witnesses to come and help

With a fatal hit-and-run.

At the sight of her face, I let out a yelp,

Appalled at what I've done.

That beautiful child is no more

And I'm the one to blame.

If only I'd waited, although it's a bore

Until the taxi came.

What must her parents be feeling now?

To imagine, I can't begin.

If only I could tell them how

I'd give all for her place to be in.

And so I decide to give myself up,

But the police have already arrived.

They're giving my car a thorough check-up

And inspecting its caved-in front side.

When I approach they caution me

And I offer my hands to be cuffed.

As they drive me away, through tears I see

The spot where that young life was snuffed.

'Oh God forgive me,' I cry in remorse.

For I can't bear what I've done.

It'll haunt me 'til I die of course

In prison at seventy-one.