We slept here
on Waverley Bridge
under the shadow of a granite ridge
Next to the only station
named for a novel –
our open-air waiting room, no place to travel
named for a novel –
our open-air waiting room, no place to travel
Just along from the Spoons and the bars
by the pools of piss and broken jars
under the sober moon and stars
by the pools of piss and broken jars
under the sober moon and stars
They swept beer.
A gull crept near.
We slept here.
A gull crept near.
We slept here.
Did we miss the last train home
and, too pissed and short of means,
hump our swag, dump our bags and
slump here until the next day’s first
and, too pissed and short of means,
hump our swag, dump our bags and
slump here until the next day’s first
Took us back with a hangover
and a funny tale to tell?
Remember the time …?
The smell and the grime …?
and a funny tale to tell?
Remember the time …?
The smell and the grime …?
We schlepped our gear
on this windswept pier.
Folk stepped clear.
We slept here.
on this windswept pier.
Folk stepped clear.
We slept here.
Or was it the latest in
a long line of one-night stays
Stairwells, doorways,
tram stops, unpacked boxes,
storm-snarled ports, last resorts?
a long line of one-night stays
Stairwells, doorways,
tram stops, unpacked boxes,
storm-snarled ports, last resorts?
Run away, kicked out,
evicted, afflicted,
repossessed, unwelcome guest
Or we’d rather sleep here than spend
even one more night at ‘home’?
evicted, afflicted,
repossessed, unwelcome guest
Or we’d rather sleep here than spend
even one more night at ‘home’?
Rent arrears.
Left in fear.
We slept here.
Left in fear.
We slept here.
He wept tears.
She kept near.
We slept here.
She kept near.
We slept here.
.
Photo: ‘We Slept Here’ spray-painted on Waverley Bridge, Edinburgh, July 2021
