A Day in London - Flashbacks.

A bar off Regent Street.  Rich kids in clothes that don't come from department stores;  the casual clunk of Mulberry bags, the click of Sophy Lazlo heels, the over-priced economy of Dolce and Gabbana.  Gyozo Dumpling soup.  A blueberry, free-radical infusion. A man eating sandwiches with one black leather glove.  The Nash church is locked against student protest.  A Bond Street jeweller sells diamonds bigger than the Ritz to Saudi princes and unshaven oligarchs.

Newspaper headlines signal the inevitability of Greek bankruptcy - a financial storm gathering over Davos.  The red lines in the street outside the door. No Stopping.   Someone selling consultancy at the next table. "Third party participancy."   People on the pavement walking, walking, clutching their mobiles, bags, mineral water.  A car with smoked glass windows, single numbers on the plate.

The doorman with a blue-tooth earpiece who wishes us a pleasant day.  Standing in front of a Picasso with six noughts after the price.  Underground, a crowded metal bullet hurtling through darkness.  Another bar.  Beyonce on the speaker system, Amy Winehouse - scorched throat music.  Another tea, another wine.  Spaghetti bolognese.

A spat of rain.  The flowering of umbrellas.

This is my day.

(Extracts from  my journal. Now on my way back to Italy)

Tuesday Poem: More stones from the river

It's been such a busy week my small stones are just observations scribbled in my notebook that haven't yet made it into poems or prose.  A summary of my week in a few images.  Who knows where they might go?


A crow falling away from the wind, like a black rag.


The car waltzes on/water, powered by the wind./A pivotal movement.

What do you do when the switch inside your head decides it's morning, in the middle of the night?

In the pub, watching the fire-light through a glass of wine.  A good place to be on a cold evening. 


For lots of good Tuesday Poems please visit the Tuesday Poets website at www.tuesdaypoem.blogspot.com
For more Small Stones in the River of Stones check out www.writingourwayhome.com