1 RELATIVITY: SUNDAY MORNING
Senior cyclists resplendent in the early sunlight -
As if decked out by some kinetic Mondrian
Their flashing redyellowblackgreenblueorwhite -
Einsteinian mascots sending Time into reverse,
Pedalling away however many years
Per minute, pouring toward the open road
2 HEATWAVE Via Tiburtina, 11/6/2003
Within the bus a scent of suncream;
Alongside us cyclists decked out like jesters,
The rampant grass speckled blue and red -
So, with Sicily by now secured,
Africa advancing quietly northward
Conjures high summer out of springtime -
Lizard detachments in close support,
It repossesses palmtrees and cacti
From Latina to Villa d'Este -
Mops up the odd mudflat, pond, riverbed,
Scorches on, challenging maps and calendars -
Next stop Setteville, the gates of Rome.
3 TOR VERGATA
At the city's littery outskirts
ragwort, poppies, violets
pitched against the worst
mankind can throw -
lying low
then from the filth and fallow
of old news, condoms, fag-packets
coming out on top,
hoisting pennants lop-
sided in the breeze,
a festive flicker
between Monday's traffic.
4 STORMCAT
Birdsong, then a crackling of distant thunder -
Zingarina the cat turns barometer,
Her ears a-twitch like two more leaves
Along the tree-high hedge she peers at
With such intentness that
It makes an instinct out of wonder -
A leap away from the window ledge
Darker and darker as if electric greenery
Stickling our under-edge of sky.
Martin Bennett