The Race Home

I ride the night-time scalextric
monotonous in movement
fixated by light
the smiling moon as my wingman

Dry with colour

The bright sea of umbrellas bob across East Andrews Park,

red, spotted, floral, transparent, blue, stripy and pink,

beacons of light on a wet, grey day.

Slowly does it

The overnight blanket slows the roads

as the morning sludge grows

drivers take the risk

Pink fluffy edges

Townhouse windows ablaze with the reflection of the setting winter sun,
a rose tinted haze gives softness to the encroaching expansion of the town

Fade to grey

The end of festivities litter Southampton's streets.
A christmas tree protrudes from a trade waste skip,
gold and silver wrapping paper spills from bins,
empty boxes stacked against walls.
Christmas colours fade to January grey

Death by fog

Houndwell Park is lifeless

no movement or sound

the imposing fog lies heavy in the air

darkened veins fade

as the avenues of trees reach for life

Finished for the day

Motionless, the cranes stand over Southampton, their outline faint but their presence imposing.

A beacon

Naked with a dusting of frost, the envious oaks surround the proud horse chestnut tree whose remaining burnt orange palmate leaves illuminate Palmerston Park.

Escape to the sun

A plane leave the frosty Tuesday morning through an open letterbox in Southampton's pallid sky.

Ready to snap

A plastic white bag hangs from a roadside branch gently flapping in the wind. 

I wonder if the tree is surrendering to winter or the traffic ridden carriage way. 

Either way, the young tree can not take much more.

Fashionably late

An army of Ugg boots march for the 09:00 lecture, eta: 09:10

Good Morning Mr .........

The gentle-faced Headmaster stands on the corner of the cross roads and welcomes his lively pupils on a cold blustery Monday morning.

Orderly queue please

Patiently, they wait in the bus shelter: the chocolate Frijj laid on it's side, the orange juice contemplating the half full or half empty theory and the can of ginger beer looking inconspicuous in the corner.