MayDay
I wandered, lonely, as a cloud
Of loose balloons above the fair Carried the colours of the crowd Into the blue and steamy air; The crush, the smells, the shrieking rides Swamping the town between the tides. The folks out foraging for fun Saw no-one watching by the queue, Merely a shadow in the sun Only a breath away from you; Your onions flavouring my nose, Your ice-cream dripping on my toes. The chilly girls, the loud parade Dispersed to hot dogs on the pier, Counting the money they had made - The same routine as every year. The rattled bucket caught a pound I picked up on the rugby ground. That’s all I had. I hope it went To folks in institutions, or To help some other indigent Hungry as me, whose feet were sore, No dog for comfort, no guitar, Curled up where all the dustbins are. I wander, lonely. As a cloud Of pungent steam rolls up the town Enveloping me like a shroud Your lights wink on, my sun goes down. May-Day, May-Day by the sea; Tears at bedtime - none for me. |