Foreign
The taxi driver's
Accent is hard to pin down:
Oh, it's Serbian
The same but different
A squirrel explores
The corners of the car park
But its fur is black
Footfall
Pedestrian city
Nobody wonders why you
Choose to walk around
Negative advertising
A sex shop is named
Very unappealingly
It's "Not just condoms"
High rise
Hemmed in by glass blocks
The passing clouds can be seen
As cool reflections
Convenience
Plastic surgeons and
Dentists vie for passing trade
With the sandwich shops
Security
Sirens aren't common
The police station dormant,
Another office
Jetlag
I've changed my watch but
I think my stomach's still
Eating on British time
Manners
Breakfast is labelled
"All you care to eat": Nanny
Would surely approve
Local news
Headlines mean nothing:
names I have never heard of
Doing something, or not
Babylon
The air's sickly sweet
In the wake of a black guy
Smoking a fat joint
Evening
The pavements are full
As tourists and locals seek
Food, drink and good times
Wheels
A long-legged girl skates
Dodging through the ambling crowds
Eyes follow her path
Temperature control
The Canadians
Have their air conditioning
We have our windows
Small rebellions
Although the waiter
Says "Have a nice day" to you,
His heart's not in it
Welcome
Doors which are unlocked
Are still kept closed: no labels
Hint at openness
Trapped
People approach me
All the time, wanting to
Tell me boring things
College
Ivy hugs old walls
Obscuring Gothic windows
Clutching ancient stones
The passion
A nude bronze statue
Arms outstretched, unsettles me
"Crucified woman"
Neighbours
Visiting tourists
Forgetfully say "Here in
the United States"
An exception
Although order and
Tidiness seem general,
There's some graffiti
Manners 2
"No excessive noise"
Warns a road sign, leaving its
Key term undefined
Time
The Catholic church
Sounds the hours with its bells; chimes
Doubled by echoes
Nutritional advice
Chocolate milk is
Not a food group; and maple
Syrup is not fruit
Half empty
Wine bought by the glass
May not fill it halfway up:
Leaves me wanting more
Queen's Park
The park is busy
A girl does Tai Chi while
Joggers trot past her
Patience
A squirrel sits up
Swaying, focused on watching
The berried branch move
Museum
The forecourt rattles
As the subway train passes
Beneath the sidewalk
Meteorological Office
A proud plaque records
"Bringing weather to you since
1892"
Rapid transit
The line runs next to
The real railway, carrying freight,
Its bigger brother
Little England
Islington, Old Mill,
Runnymede, Lansdowne, Bathurst:
Named by pioneers
Airport bus
Flight crew, when earthbound,
Share bus seats with mere mortals:
They stay dignified
Equality
The premium class
Passengers queue just as long
As all the others
Limbo
On the brink of change
Turning back to UK time
My watch means nothing
Airport
The gallery looks out
On boys' toys - the planes and trucks
Playing together
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