Soundings

1.

The train from Oxford is quiet.

Perhaps we are all reflecting

upon the importance of learning

and enquiry

to a civilised nation.

2.

Until it arrives at Slough,

where the doors are opened

to a chattering invasion of voices;

closely followed by their owners.

Like a class of pupils

set free from their constraints,

the commuter crowd continued

their unrelenting chatter

all the way to Paddington.

3.

The regular confusion of light conversation,

mobile phones and undulating train noises

accompany the final leg of our day trip.

Walking from the Highbury Station

we stop to eat at a convenient pub.

Here, a new set of erratic conversations

from the Friday night mob

are augmented by the driving bass rhythms

of recorded rock and roll music.

The food was good.

4.

Turning into the polite street

wherein we are being accommodated,

the throaty roar of an outrageous motorcycle

reminds us of home:

Bendigo, hoon capital of Victoria.

5.

Three am.

The night’s summer stillness is swept aside

by a dreadful wailing.

Rising, and moving to the window

Jane observes a man with a dog.

The man is kicking the animal

and stomping on its neck.

The despairing cry slowly recedes

as the man drags the wretched

object of his betraying

to the end of the street, and around the corner.

Jane punches the three nines into her phone,

and speaks to the authorities;

whilst I am left to wonder

about the things that make

for a civilised nation.



© Ken Rookes 2011
I wrote this in London during my recent leave. It seems to have some relevance to the current events in that troubled nation.