The hill was steep but the road was wide
As the old man rode to the other side
A rattle, a bang, and then a creak
As his cycle gave out an almighty squeak.

The chain was broken, it had lost a link
How to repair it he couldn't think
But six special police on an evening patrol
Arrived at the scene to play a new role.

One came up with a hair-brained idea
And let out a yell the night birds could hear
Look for a nail and wire quite thin
We all scattered around in the defening din.

Cooks and other workers passing by
joined the search with a probing eye
One had some clippers, another a wrench
We turned the drain wall into a bench.

A rusty nail, a piece of wire
Arrived from out a nearby kia
Then one of the specials found some spokes
An instant repair man, he new the ropes.

A new link was fashioned, the chain was fixed
The old man's reaction was really quite mixed
With tears in his eyes he thanked one and all
The specials, the friends who had answered the call.

The group broke up under the light
And cycled off calling a cheerful goodnight
Leaving us specials with a feeling of pleasure
Of helping the old man, a memory to treasure.

From the collection - RHODESIAN REVERIE
Memories by Robert Heinrich Percival Cornell
Contributed by his grandson Rob Staniland
Email : Rob