Friends, couples, families, out in the cold,
Happily frost nipped with hands in gloves, necks in scarves
and bodies in coats.
A busy day in the bitter capital,
It’s weekday gloom replaced with weekend warmth,
Unjustifiably large bags droop from dragging arms,
Yelling labels, sales and splash outs.
Stomachs are warm but they growl for nourishment,
Coffee on the platform just wasn’t enough.
Cafes and restaurants bursting with business,
Seems everyone but you has a table.
The crowds of likewise stranded, desperate souls,
Shuffle inevitably towards a golden glow.
Cold white tiles and a shield wall of cashiers,
Clamouring, squawking and clattering trays.
It’s all too easy, too good to be true,
Upstairs, downstairs there’s no where to perch.
Hovering chair vultures lean on every wall,
The gloomy strip lights illuminating a sorry scene:
A long white trough stretches the room,
Just too high stools uncomfortably close.
Grey faces gaze with no recognition,
Elbow joints creaking chip to mouth, chip to mouth, chip to mouth…
From happy chill to cosy oblivion, through a pair of golden arches.
Hey! Just want to say, having read your poem because the title drew me in, I love it!
A couple of my favourite parts: I like the 'yelling labels', and I also like 'shield wall of cashiers'.
The whole poem is sort of real, but with that lyrical edge that makes a lot of good poetry great. Overall, I really like your poem, and I hope you keep writing!!
Oh, and I too shall 'like' your work, following the lead of the preceeding comment!
Good poem. Contrast of the first two paragraphs with the third is nice. The third paragraph is my favorite. 'Hovering chair vultures', I count myself among them! Overall, a good depiction of the scene.
I believe I shall like this *hits like*
Good job, happy writing!