Through the Kalahari

As I embarked on my winding way, With gin by my side, come what may, A cold companion, flavored with zest, Juniper berries danced upon my quest. At every sip, a tear did fall, A sorrowful tale, of love's bitter call, But I couldn't resist the drink's sweet sway, For in its warmth, my loneliness would stray. The road was long, the night was dark and grey, I needed solace, a friend to stay, And so I sought the kindness of a cop's eye, One who would look the other way, and let me pass by. In this era of corruption's stain, It's a rare find, a good cop's refrain, But I was lucky, or so it would seem, For they smiled and waved, and let my journey beam. The hours ticked by, as I drove through the night, Contending with rain, and potholes in sight, I'd stop and rest, at every lay-by's gate, And let the silence, soothe my weary state. And then I saw it, a glimmer of light, The land ahead, a beacon in flight, I'd reached my destination, worn but true, And though the journey was long, I'd made it through. The gin was gone, but its memory stayed, A bittersweet tale, of love and dismay, But I'd found my way, through the dark and the cold, And in the end, my heart was made of gold.