People who walk in front of my bench one spring day in Trafalgar Square:

1-2 SECONDS:
BACK: A group of three sit by the fountain; A group of
four walk from the middle-right, left; Two walk on
from the right slowly left.
MIDDLE: A lightly Turkish-looking woman stands
middle-right talking to her darker-skinned lover; both
of them wearing blue jeans and brown shoes.
FRONT: A pale grey-haired young middle-aged man walks
right, with black glasses and a long black coat, and a
black rucksack containing his belongings.

2-3 SECONDS:
BACK: A group of three sit by the fountain; A group of
four walk from the middle-left, left; Two walk on from
the middle slowly left.
MIDDLE: A lightly Turkish-looking woman stands
middle-left, her darker-skinned lover before her, both
look at something to the right.

4-5 SECONDS:
BACK: A group of three sit by the fountain.

6-7 SECONDS:
BACK: A group of three sit by the fountain.
MIDDLE: An average family of six (mother, father,
grandfather, children) walk along the middle distance
right.

8-9 SECONDS:
BACK: A group of three sit by the fountain.
MIDDLE: A couple who look similar, wearing black and
grey clothing with long coat and black hair, walk
right while looking towards the mad monk preaching
plagues with the speaker system in the far background.

10-11 SECONDS:
BACK: A group of three sit by the fountain.
MIDDLE: Just pigeons at the middle distance.

12-13 SECONDS:
BACK: I can just see a bright red duffel-jacket wearer
exiting right.
FRONT: Someone wearing brown and beige stands in front
of me blocking my view.

14-15 SECONDS:
BACK: A group of three sit by the fountain.
MIDDLE: A flock of pigeons.

16-17 SECONDS:
BACK: A group of three sit by the fountain.
MIDDLE: Some pigeons.

18-19 SECONDS:
BACK: The group of three walk off to the right.
MIDDLE: A man dressed in black rushes left causing the
pigeons to hurriedly fly away.

20-21 SECONDS:
BACK: No pigeons on the ground.
MIDDLE: Five pigeons on the ground.
FRONT: Pigeon shit.

Stephen Johnson

If you've any comments on this poem, Stephen Johnson would be pleased to hear from you.