Christopher North
Poem About Peewits
In this particular M4 snarl-up I endeavour
not to be stressed, typical and middle management.
I’d slowed hoping the clog was still moving;
but no. Now in front the logos smile their usual ironies:
‘Triumph’, ‘Acclaim’, ‘Range’ and ‘Rover’.
In a field beside us lapwings dive then curve up
and dive again: spring-crazy and giddy with lust.
The audio book on the machine has a hard-nosed,
female detective say I’m outta here.
She says it twice. The thriller ends.
I read and re-read the morning agenda,
then assemble the cassettes alphabetically.
The flat cap in the Metro picks a fight
with a white van; probably territorial.
The three lunky lads in the cabin above him
have folded expressionless arms and open Suns.
The horizon shimmers above our linear city and ahead
a plume of black smoke rises like in a war documentary.
In the nearby Nova a woman very slowly paints her nails.
The lapwings dive; share with us their sharp and sudden song.
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