London Through An Outsiders Eyes

London

People 

people everywhere

pavements bursting

bodies pouring out onto streets

benches taken

pubs and cafes rammed

crowds swarming round popular locations

queues to get in well known shops

barely space enough for your next step

tourists

queuing for everything

to visit everything 

and photograph everything 

space at a premium 

people living in stacks of boxes

tall monoliths 

all in a scramble to reach the sky

prickly aerial masts on roofs puncture the clouds

balconies with views of nothing

thriving on constant noise 

no silence - even at night

no respite from the city's heat

permeating everything 

red buses

red phone boxes 

red faces

pavements offering no shelter

cyclists 

electric scooters

huge suitcases

beggers 

hurry hurry hurry!

deep in the 'now' culture

everything delivered 

everything to hand

everything on an app

food for now

food for later

life delivered 

access to its places

its cafes

restaurants 

theatres

cinemas

venues

galleries

destinations  

famous landmarks

sights to see

(Gasp!)

Tap your phone

Now now now!

London - a city

Jam packed busy

mad crazy

noisy 

full to bursting

feed your senses

exciting 

lots to do

lots to see

lots of experiences

A-mazing! 

...in small doses!

(I want to go home please!)

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Heads Off To The Loo

My bladder usually wakes up first

shortly followed by my mind.

My bladder says it needs emptying,

my mind asks if it possible to push blancmange up a hill with a chopstick

My bladder tells my mind it's an idiot

...my mind adding

"it would probably be easier if you used several chopsticks!"

My body chips in...

"shut up you two, I'm not ready and if we move now, 

we're all going to end up in a heap on the floor!"

My mind continues, 

"and, who was the first person who thought we needed a letter 'P' 

at the beginning of the word psychology?"

"I need emptying" shouts my bladder!

"I can't move...!" - my body reminds them

"...and - continues my mind

"why is it...?

Brain hits the mute button - and we head off to the loo - slowly!

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War

This is an arena of war 

conflict amidst primeval 

tribal

unreasoning support 

support for their soldiers 

their colours displayed

war paint across faces

stood amongst their own

flags with village names proudly displayed

allegiances laid bare as this battle commences 

Sergeants leading the men

jumping up and down they scream

arms around each others shoulders

they become soldiers of war

as if prepared to fight

prepared to die

chanting well rehearsed songs

jeering incorrect decisions 

cheering progress on the battle field in front of them

mocking those in charge 

worshiping their Generals 

mauning the loss 

saluting their warriors in winning 

the battle

winning the war 

the war that is this game

...this game of football

The Tube - Off We Go Again

Tap a card and go down endless escalators 

deep into vast holes dug into the earth

hot and stuffy

be prepared to be squashed into trains

like sardines in a tin.

sweaty Turkish baths meet mass transit

electric motors provide startling excelloration 

powering us along 

inside hollowed out tubes

deep under the streets of London 

too full to get a seat

too noisy to chat

too hot to be enjoyed!

but getting you to where you need to be!

"Doors closing!"

"Ready, Steady - GO!"

Lurch backwards 

hang on tight!

heads down

no-one talks

faces buried in mobile screens

thumbs tapping 

no eye to eye contact

swaying side to side

left right up and down 

announcements made - no- hears 

wheels on tracks

flanges squealing 

biting screeching breaks - throw you forward!

"STOOOOOOOOOOP!"

Part essential mode of transportation 

part fairground ride

"Mind the gap!"

crowds of people trying to get out

crowds of people trying to get in - squashing us further

"mind the doors!"

...off we go again!

(Untitled)

Moving whilst standing still

free to travel - but only where I go!

no changing your mind

no stopping half way 

no going back!

(Escalators)

Highgate Cemetery - The Famous Dead

We who pay to wander - the curious

to gaze at the graves of the famous dead 

sleep well famous dead people 

rest in your forever sleep

don't mind us - us who pay to come and nose at your final resting places

you once famous in your chosen fields

you who's names live on

amidst the grand - and the humble plots

where your bones

entombed in time worn stonework lay

where the foxes scavenge

squirrels play

door mice nest

and the weeds grow 

choking your memories 

ivy covered sentiments

caring verses carved

dates

names

you - famous dead people 

all that time has taken from us

Who were you - famous dead people

and who are you now?

For all the grandeur of your tombs

who are you now - if not dead?

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