Newport

dull drab drenched
slick slate cobble
beneath church tower shadow
with dark green fringe
and little red berries
poisoned podules in the rain.

muddy clouds collide
with silver sunlight shafts
and the rain takes hold.

cobbles glisten and weep
and run past the old dark windows
with flicker lights and muffled talk
and the faint scent of beer and wine
and the wood smoke comfort of a real log fire.

the tears skip on through shop front dummies
and wedding wishes and garden gifts,
hungry and sweet,
towards beckoning gutter and yawning drain
slipping into the darkness 
down to the depths
and on to the sea.