This is the part where a Dutch girl
loses herself in smoke only
to find herself again in the
letterbox eyes of an Iranian
woman at the back of a bus
heading two stops away from
where she really ought to be
This the part where a librarian
with a pierced nose and fifty percent
shaved head chases a rude boy down the
poetry aisle after he slobbers
milkshake all over Ginsberg’s
Cosmpolitan Greetings
he forgets to note its location
as he runs runs runs to
The part where a Portuguese filmmaker
pretends he’s asking for directions
and slides a phone number into the
Dutch girl’s pocket as she tries to
emphasize she’s new here and she
has no idea where she’s going
This is the part where a Chelsea
local vomits her muffin into
a Starbucks loo whilst her friend scoops
whipped cream like she’s
shovelling yellow snow
This is the part where trench coat men
with funnelled eyes plot and plan their
way through the Gherkin like worms in
and out of rotting fruit
And this is the part where teenagers
from Texas rodeo their way
through Top Shop past smart trousered women
with clipboards who tally up wide
eyes and stuck out hipbones.
These are parts
that spin so fast
and do not stop unless you catch them
with a piece of paper and a
ball-point pen and even then
they might disappear, like that man you saw
crying on a Camden bridge.
Comments
skinner_jennifer | November 14, 2011 - 12:15
Hi Maggy,
you really summed up the reason, every good poet
should carry a note pad and pen around with them
everywhere they go...to catch those special moments
that you write in this piece, those moments that are
quickly forgotton.
I cannot pick a favourite stanza, because they
were all so amusing, so I'll just say I think
you managed to capture a lot in this piece and it
worked.
Jenny.
maggyvaneijk | November 14, 2011 - 12:16
Thanks so much Jenny, I'm glad you liked it!
fatboy74 | November 14, 2011 - 13:41
This is a triumph Maggy with an end that stays as all good endings should. :-)
maggyvaneijk | November 14, 2011 - 14:27
Thanks FB and Julie!
seashore | November 14, 2011 - 14:32
Brilliant as ever Maggy, so visual, like watching a film clip. Well done, Dutch girl.
maggyvaneijk | November 14, 2011 - 14:34
Yay thanks! They're just little snippets of my first days in London
tcook | November 14, 2011 - 15:57
This is our Facebook and Twitter pick of the day.
Join us on Facebook at ABCtales.com
Join us on Twitter @tcookabctales
Get a great reading recommendation most days.
ScoZen | November 14, 2011 - 17:32
Hello there MV.
Well deserved "...our Facebook and Twitter pick of the day..."
Kilb50 | November 15, 2011 - 08:41
Wonderful energy in this poem Maggy and the structure drives both narrative and reader ever forward...don't think I'll ever look at the gherkin in the same way again! Excellent work.
maggyvaneijk | November 15, 2011 - 10:35
Cheers ScoZen and thanks Kilb50, that's a really kind comment.
Cavalcaderl | November 15, 2011 - 11:24
new Maggvaneijk
Very Happy Birthday for Thursday November 17th.
I was just going comment
after read good poem.
I agree with Jenny to comments.
Full of images,people,
and places and top shop.
Well done1 cherries!
Mention scribble and paper.
Reminds me of when I started
on AbcTales. 2009. Was at Borders
shop and coffee place,could meet Autor buy book
and have wine,chat! closed now, waiting friend
so opened a magazine,stop feeling edgy, saw a beautiful face,
after someone on AbcTales called "Scribbles"
Called the poem "Angel Face" when got home from
scribbling,not knowing till read,it was
Sarah Jessica Parker, so called it 'Angel Face'
on AbcTales omg! that got me my very! very! 1st cherry!
So I keep scribbling wherever go, if time.
After 40 approx; done or tried. Thanks to 'Scribbles'
Take care Hope meet soon London again.
Cavalcaderl julie x
shoe | November 15, 2011 - 15:55
Really enjoyed this, you have a unique way of seeing the world, thanks for sharing and well earned pick of the day.
Highhat | November 16, 2011 - 06:20
It's always a joy to read your "observations" of life here and there Maggy. This is truly a "corker" jumps right out at you and hits your senses in such a pleasant way. So many lovely and unique images. I think this may very well be one of my favourites of yours!
"letterbox eyes"
"slobbers milkshake all over Ginsberg's..." just a couple of lines especially enjoyed..
;)Pia
Overthetop1 | November 20, 2011 - 03:40
I loved, loved, loved this poem. Real genius. Fantastic, topsy-turvy imagery. Great ending. The Dutch girl has it all and then some.
hudsonmoon | November 20, 2011 - 20:32
You've a great pair of eyes, Maggy. They serve you well. Always amazed at what you're able to capture.
Rich
MistakenMagic | November 22, 2011 - 17:32
Sorry it's taken me so long to read this one, Maggy. I'm blaming everything on my literary criticism essay at the moment, and I'm sticking to it! But this is a great bit of people-watching - I was completely absorbed by it all, and that last line strikes exactly the right poignant note! Well done :)
Magic xxx
Dynamaso | November 23, 2011 - 05:35
I've been a way quite a while, Maggy and I've just read through the collection you've put up in my absence. What I really want to know is when you're publishing an anthology as your work is the sort I would love to go back to again and again. It is staggeringly good and I thank you for the privilege of being able to read it.
oldpesky | November 23, 2011 - 11:40
Brilliant observations and writing as ever, maggy. Hope you're good.
lavadis | November 26, 2011 - 09:39
This is the kind of poetry I would go out and buy and sit alone on the South Bank, on a bench near the book stalls on an autumn Sunday morning and read and read. Don't let anyone ever stop you.
maggyvaneijk | November 26, 2011 - 09:43
Thank you so much everyone for your extremely kind comments on this piece.
Thanks Lavadis, that is definitely my kind of Sunday.
cormacru999 | November 28, 2011 - 17:29
this was brilliant. so many snapshots of time and people. I really loved it.
hilary west | December 8, 2011 - 16:04
Great images and pictures piled up high!
raylee925 | December 13, 2011 - 11:41
It must the imagery, I have read this poem several times and always hear Tom waits singing it!
maggyvaneijk | December 13, 2011 - 11:51
That's a huge compliment, thanks Ralyee!