In the dim, distant past, though not that long ago,
Karen decided one day,
That she’d learn to drive a car on the road,
(It’s the best place to do it they say).
Driving instructors, they came and they went,
With each one getting much bolder,
Though it’s true to say, at the end of the day,
When they left her each one looked much older.
Then one day despairing she’d not get it right,
Fate took a hand, saved the day,
Another instructor sat down next to her,
Clicked his seat belt and she was away.
Driving in town, or along country lanes,
Made no difference to her, it was magic,
She got on so well, with this man you could tell,
Her previous instructors were tragic.
Then one day he looked at her sat in the car,
And said, “right then I think that it’s best,
I’ve taught you all that I know, there’s nothing more so,
I think that you should sit your test.”
Karen was happy, she clapped both her hands,
Her cheeks got a rosy red glow,
“D’yer think so,” she said and tossed back her head,
Her instructor said, “yes, I think so.”
Now, they’ve changed all the rules and a written exam,
Was included that she had to pass,
By hook or by crook, she’d learn the whole book,
She passed and could drive on at last.
Now she could take the practical test
And Karen was over the moon,
She would go right through it, she knew she could do it,
Trouble was, it was quite soon.
The day dawned quite early, as I now recall,
1st of August two thousand and six,
She got up at five, to practise her drive,
And a few of her driving test tricks.
It was mid afternoon and she should arrive soon
At the centre where drivers are tested,
She turned up on the dot, with her engine quite hot,
But she felt exceedingly rested.
The examiner got in with his clipboard and pen
And asked lots of questions and such
Karen answered them all and felt six feet tall
When he smiled and said, “thanks very much.”
“You can start now,” he said, with not one ounce of dread
And returned his pen to his pocket
Karen looked at him sly, from the side of her eye
Dropped the clutch and took off like a rocket.
She drove him around, it was really profound
He was happy as pie, in a whirl,
The policeman was kind and said he didn’t mind
When she parked on his foot, silly girl
She drove back to the start and pulled up in the car
And sat there wait-ing with breath baited
The examiner grinned, she hadn’t sinned
She’d passed and Karen was elated.
So her mother and me, as kind as could be
Decided to send her a card
“Congratulations” it said, and was all coloured red
But what followed next was quite hard.
I’d written some words on the card coloured red
Words I thought just a witty poem,
Without using tact, I mentioned the fact,
Her instructor was now in a home
But we are both proud of what she has done,
She managed it all on her own
She passed all the test, so I think it best
From now on we leave her alone.
She’s now got her licence and is able at last,
To drive up and down any street,
I’ve written this rhyme, ‘cause she passed the first time
but when she parks, I’ll still watch my feet.
Beverley Wins First Prize