COALFACE:

I’m back here again,
An empty page,
Standing at the edge of the pavement,
Checking pockets for change,
Condiments,
Costs,

Unfamiliar faces,
stray smiles,
Glances between calls,
A stick-man in black,
Striding up the middle of the road,
No cars,

Lucky Seven,
Broken thirteen,
Ladder-man walks into the light of a new day,
Waits between words,
Pages unturned,
Already eight hours underway,

A doorway,
Sheltering,
Looks up at the sky,
Threatening rain,
A Black dog on a Purple leash,
No need to book,
Just call him

 

(K)