Poem 43 of 230: A BAYSWATER BED-SIT
Arrived in London,
At Heathrow Airport,
With sixty kilos
Of luggage I'd brought.
Found a paper, Loot,
And called an agent;
Stored two heavy bags,
Then to him I went.
For one week of rent,
He'd ensure a bed
Within Bayswater -
A bed-sit, he said.
It was eighty pounds
Per week (nothing more),
With a lift arranged
To the building's door.
Jet-lagged and sleepless,
I took the deal;
Checked-in quickly,
Had a rushed meal.
Collected my bags
(Tube there, shared-van back),
Then carried them up
To my top-floor shack.
A penthouse - no need,
It did me just fine:
A cook-top and fridge,
A table to dine.
Seated, I could watch
The clouds roll by -
Often from the west -
Or jets cut the sky.
There were large plane-trees,
A squirrel or two;
And pigeons dropped by -
Foregrounding the view.
Plus, at dawn, the sun
Shone in from the east -
Filling the small room
As on toast I’d feast.
And, contemplating,
It occurs to me -
If all lived that well,
How great it would be.
But a lot do sleep
Outdoors many nights -
On sheets of cardboard,
Without basic rights.
(C) David Franks 2003
Arrived in London,
At Heathrow Airport,
With sixty kilos
Of luggage I'd brought.
Found a paper, Loot,
And called an agent;
Stored two heavy bags,
Then to him I went.
For one week of rent,
He'd ensure a bed
Within Bayswater -
A bed-sit, he said.
It was eighty pounds
Per week (nothing more),
With a lift arranged
To the building's door.
Jet-lagged and sleepless,
I took the deal;
Checked-in quickly,
Had a rushed meal.
Collected my bags
(Tube there, shared-van back),
Then carried them up
To my top-floor shack.
A penthouse - no need,
It did me just fine:
A cook-top and fridge,
A table to dine.
Seated, I could watch
The clouds roll by -
Often from the west -
Or jets cut the sky.
There were large plane-trees,
A squirrel or two;
And pigeons dropped by -
Foregrounding the view.
Plus, at dawn, the sun
Shone in from the east -
Filling the small room
As on toast I’d feast.
And, contemplating,
It occurs to me -
If all lived that well,
How great it would be.
But a lot do sleep
Outdoors many nights -
On sheets of cardboard,
Without basic rights.
(C) David Franks 2003
What was my local in Bayswater; 2/8/2014 |
Where I sat in Bayswater; 2/8/14 |
17 years later, the "large plane- trees" still looking good within Kensington Gardens Sq.; 2/8/14 |
Location on Google Maps (new tab)