To the river

There are steps to the water
and I don’t know why
Something with meaning
in times now passed by

Perhaps for a boatman
to access his craft
For trade on the river
to board fore and aft

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Right time, right place

In London quite early
(I was up with the lark)
So it’s still very quiet
in St James’ park

And just there by the lake
as I happenchanced by
A picture of heaven
for a smile and a cry

Flat white to go

Flat white to go
by the Thames in the sun
best way by far
that a day is begun
Watching the river
flow silently by
beneath a pale blue
and promising sky

Ironic digging

Irony seemed appropriate
in Gordon Square today
Archeology under wraps
for sometime yet I’d say
I wonder what they’ll find in there
under London’s ground
especially whilst the expertise
is evident around

Oasis of Lovely

Amongst the towering walls of glass
the concrete and the steel
a sculpture hanging in the trees
is calming and genteel

Golden

It had the power with beauty
to make you stop and stare
and simply marvel at it
or take a picture there
Golden, proud and splendid
not a one passed by
Everybody slowing and
breathing a deep sigh

Big Ben’s bell is silent

Big Ben’s bell is silent
no chimes upon the hour
And all wrapped up in scaffolding
right around the tower

Autumn’s Glory

It’s lovely in St James’ Park
around this time of year
As all the trees are turning
now the autumn time is here

Squirrel II

I met a little squirrel
in St James’ park today
He stopped and looked straight up at me
I think, as if to say
That if I were to be so kind
A little titbit please
‘For I’m find it quite hard
to find my nuts amongst the leaves’

The small hours

Five a.m. It’s very quiet
not a sound here to be heard
Just the ticking of the mantle clock
and an early morning bird

Stuck in a crowd

Victoria station
this morning and me
Stuck in a crowd and
waiting to see
if the gates to the tube
would anytime soon
open up to the waiting
lest one of us swoon

The Turning

The Thames at Kew this morning
with trees just on the turn
A warmth still in the early sun
The chill yet to discern

Little Venice

Paddington Central, London town
a haven here I found
Little Venice, tranquil peace
despite the noise around
Ducks upon the water
Longboats moored at bay
A rather pleasant find
at the start of this fine day

The nineteenth floor

There’s a word I feel from way up here
One born of peace and more
‘Serenity’s’ more apt I think
up on the nineteenth floor

The Pigeon Traveller

Met a pigeon on the tube
on the Metropolitan line
Wondered where he might be going
at this rather early time
Several stations sprang to mind
Canary Wharf was one
And Peckham was another
which rather seemed like fun

London

Sirens. Busses. Polluted air

Millions of strangers, none of whom care.

 

Hard-faced ladies. Unloving boys

Dirt. Construction. Non-stop noise.

Our Happy Place

There is a place in London
where we’ve been members for a while
that we’re proud to call our happy place
as it always brings a smile

Switch House View

High above the Switch House
of Tate Modern, London town
from the viewing platform way up here
it’s a long way looking down

Jolly Early

It’s awfully jolly early
to be up on a weekend
But we’re off (us two) to London
to visit an old friend
And as we’re paid up members
we get an early special tour
There before the crowds get in
what our membership is for

Delays

Stuck on a train at East Croydon
We’re moving at one mile an hour
Looks like I’m going to be rather late
for my seminar in Euston Tower

London Buzz

Heading to London
it’s been quite a while
Yet, always a visit
elicits a smile
It still brings a buzz
every time I come here
with so much to see
and bring me some cheer

Gunnersbury

Under Gunnersbury bridge
the Thames is on the turn
And as the sun shines on the water
there to wander I adjourn

Black Swan

Early morning in St James’
A black swan came swimming by
Reflected in the water
as if to beautify
It was a peaceful moment
London slumbered all around
and in the stillness of the hour
I could barely hear a sound

Treasure to save

Autumn’s come early it seems as the Spring
was quite wet this year and then
the summer that followed was generally dry
and hot most days once again

The last hot summer night

Walking through St James’ Park
on the last hot summer night
I spied Buck House between the trees
it was a lovely sight
All lit up and shining
casting its reflection there
It was such a lovely thing to see
that I just had to share

Friends

On a train out of St Pancras
heading for the coast
It’s been a really good night out
of which we’ve made the most
We’ve had good conversation
as good friends always do
It’s just a pity that these
get togethers are so very few

A quiet moment

I’m at the Angel Islington
in the heart of London town
Waiting by the tunnel
for traffic to come down
There are watercraft here waiting
close to where I am
Engines chugging in a queue
A canal boat traffic jam

Routemaster No.5

I saw a little London bus
on a table for a pound
At the car boot sale down on the Rec.
just waiting to be found
It’s been played with many times before
an original Matchbox toy
Something I was chuffed to find
for it’s sure to bring me joy