The CBB :: View topic - Walking Fowards

#1: Walking Fowards Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!!

Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 9:09 pm

I never thought that I would see this place again. The familiar sights the familiar language. I have missed hearing the musical rhythm of the words around me, the beautiful sights, and the fragrant smells. There had always been hope in my mind that I would return. Hope I purposefully kept small and secret, partly to prevent myself from a shattering hurt, but kept all the same because we all need some hope.

Walking down the avenue brings back so many memories, some of times and events I had long thought forgotten. The little shop on the corner where father would stop buy me sweets and other treats as we passed by, now rather shabby and containing a drab looking office. But still there.

It saddens me to realise other buildings haven’t been so lucky. I had known that some had been destroyed in the war, but I still find it a shock to see a familiar friend gone. The Opera House is no more, with its beautiful Corinthian columns and flowing acanthus leaves, glimmering golden in the light. I will always remember father telling me the story of Pelops and the Chariot race, which was depicted there in the pediment, a copy of the famous scene on the Temple of Zeus at Olympia. This had been the start of my love of Greek myths and I had read them avidly and still do for comfort. There are plans now to rebuild the Opera, something modern probably no doubt with awkward angles and stainless steel. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against modern architecture, it’s just that here, there could be no other building than the one locked in my memory.

Other areas of the city seemed so completely different. The centre of town where the market had been held bears no similarities other that the pattern of the streets. It was to this area that I had often secretly escaped when one of the many wonderful garish fairs had been held. Maybe I was too used to seeing the place dressed up for the occasion, with banners and flags and oh so many glorious flowers. Now all that is here are looming concrete buildings, many bearing the scars of the recent conflicts to horrifyingly different degrees.

Yet the people here are resilient, always wearing a smile and with a friendly greeting, and in their own way the losses of the past are being overcome. So many places are now building sites, growing public buildings and housing day by day, just like the blooming flowers.

I find myself standing before my home, well what had been my home, long since destroyed. It certainly would never have been allowed to stay. Here now fittingly the beginnings of democracy are being created. This is to be the new parliament building. I linger here gazing with admiration on the scene, and then I shut my eyes tightly and silently pray vehemently for its future success.

Turning away I walk back up other streets. As I wander these grow increasingly smaller and wind round and round, yet I know my way and I feel most at home here, this is the old part of town, the colour and feel that I remember used to be everywhere. Somehow a tiny part of the city has survived everything thrown at it, preserved I hope forever. The buildings stand out, proudly made from local materials with balconies full of flowers. I wonder sadly how things could be so different just a few minutes away. It’s almost as if the city had purposely saved a portion of itself to act forever as a reminder or maybe a warning, of what once was.

I involuntarily shiver at these thoughts as I come out into a wide open area and there lying before me is the Cathedral. I had expected this to be the same, religion will always be entwined with these people’s lives, it has been so with mine. Yet, it is with a shock that I realise it looks no different than on my wedding day. I take a seat on a nearby bench and slowly begin to take in everything I have seen. Suddenly I realise how similar I am to this city. We have both suffered so much, and even now, so many years on the wounds are only beginning to be healed.

Last edited by Ally on Sat Jul 23, 2005 7:14 pm; edited 2 times in total

#2: Author: Katie, Location: A Yorkshire lass in London

Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 9:17 pm

That was lovely, Ally. Thank you. Smile

#3: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England

Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 9:52 pm

That was a wonderful drabble and I really liked all the descriptions. Was anyone in particular meant to be describing it?

#4: Author: Gem, Location: Saltash/Aberystwyth

Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 9:53 pm

Thank you, Ally Very Happy

That was beautiful.

*sends more plot bunnies in Ally's direction*

#5: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 10:23 pm

Luffly!!

Thanks Ally

Liz

#6: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 10:29 pm

Vair shiny Ally!
Thank you hunny!

#7: Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire

Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 1:26 pm

Lovely, Ally. Beautiful descriptions of place and emotion.

Am ashamed to admit though that I can't work out who is speaking - I feel I should know!

#8: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 2:15 pm

Thank you, Ally. Who was it meant to be, please?

#9: Author: Mel, Location: UP NORTH

Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 2:48 pm

Isn't this Elisaveta?

#10: Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!!

Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 3:54 pm

Yes, it's Elizaveta returning to Firato.

Thank you for all your comments Very Happy

#11: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 4:07 pm

Lovely, Ally. Thank you.

#12: Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex

Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 4:10 pm

Thank you Ally that was vair shiny! (And you say you don't do writing) *tsks to self*

#13: Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire

Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 8:23 pm

Elisaveta! Of course! *beats self with stick for not realising*

You write beautifully, Ally Very Happy

#14: Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 11:38 am

That was lovely Ally

and I thought it was Elisaveta

#15: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 11:51 am

Ally, this is lovely - thank you! Very Happy

#16: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 8:21 pm

That was fab, Ally, thanks.

#17: Author: Sugarplum, Location: second star to the right!

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 8:46 pm

That was lovely Ally

#18: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 3:01 am

Thanks Ally....very thought-provoking.

#19: Author: JustJen, Location: waiting for a bus

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 4:46 am

That was wonderful. Thany you for sharing

#20: Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England

Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 11:20 pm

That was beautiful, very descriptive and thought provoking.

#21: Author: Nell, Location: London, England

Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 5:04 pm

Beautiful, thank you Ally!

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