hard is the journey

- after li po

smudged glasses of warm stella
three pounds a pint
damp pitas of pungent meat
costing another fiver

I throw my kebab down
stamp it into the ground
raise my fists and stare
wildly about me

black cabs will not cross
this many bridged river
it’s at least another hour before
I can climb the night bus’s steps

crossing the bridge
I toss my change over the side
imagine the warm sun
rising over my shoulder

hard is the journey
hard is the journey
so many false short cuts
-bollocks, where am I?

as the change breaks
the waters calm I sing
a drunk song to the clouds
-sail across the oceans!