Two Cities

London

A ragged leaf on a London street.

Green against the grey,

It blows in the breeze

Of a hundred hurried commuters.

Pillar-box red blur,

Stuck with gaudy flyers;

The number 5 rushes by,

Crushing the leaf

Under bold and brazen tyres.

Bangkok

Ruby trimmed pillars frame the temples,

air swims with oils of jasmine

and thyme.

Outside persistent neon signs

flash in smog filled streets,

while expectant eyes fish out

the fattest wallets.

Lime green leaves sizzle in salt

on an open flame,

flickering like conscience,

sticky with garlic and oil.