‘Trafalgar’
Tourists always, smiling stiffly, their backs to Nelson -
200 years this year, of course;
the barge with a lead-lined coffin up the Thames,
the mourners in top coats - and 60 since VE Day;
grainy black-and-white people, uniforms and lipstick,
frozen mid-kiss, dancing, climbing on the lions -
the England fans, after the rugby,
Jonny looking embarrassed, Tindall like a prat -
and when Korea beat Italy, the sudden bloom of red shirts,
flag-waving and Korean chanting round the fountains -
pedestrianised now - the pigeons are back though,
cooing and clattering; even Ken can