An observation of life from an attic window whilst living as a student in Stirling (Scotland) and spending too many hours town- watching rather than studying.
Stirling Town |
| by Carey Lenehan |
|
The current hour shifts on by, the passing minutes strain A single flower bends and sighs, awaiting summer rain Beside the steeples' arrow head, the summer swallows dash From flat rooftop to backyard shed, from earth to sky they flash Warehouse roofs and hotel kitchens, china clinks and rattles Urban fox, a shadow shifting, fights survival battles Hunting through the rubbish bins, rich with tempting morsels Half eaten meals, half empty tins, nothing is too awful Cat fights high across the slates, invisible in the dark Screeching felines, demonic states, earthbound tiger sharks Woken babies wail and cry, through townhouse open windows Early risers hurry by, and slowly do my hours go Dust fades into dawn and night concedes with clear relief No cloak for nervous creature flight, nor for the sneaking thief Traffic rising to a drone, distant, drowned by bird song The graveyard owl sleeps on alone, as church bells count the time gone Summer days in Stirling Town, high over dusty streets Garret room beneath the crown, of a grey faced house, a castle keep Long warm days, short light nights, Saturday shoppers and buskers Thinking time and dim lamplight, long, late evenings, hotly clustered Conversation, loud and rash, hot young reckless anger Always on through life they crash, age may temper teenage rancour Foolishness around abounds, takes the spirit and the mood Sensation seekers hunt around, for all that feels quite simply good It is a time to warmly doze, the softest days away Summer smells drift to the nose, and sunlight shifts all day The restless spirits come and go, in search of ceaseless fun Laughing voices high and low, will play until the summer's done |