Anarchy at New Street
Earth and Fire
Everything is benchmarked: carriage design;
Fare schedules; management tiers; the sidings are
Precision-built. Lines of brickwork, laid English bond by
Irish navvies. Still, the timetable has gone freeform,
Grounding me here, marking time and admiring how,
Without an action plan, or by-your-leave,
Lurid ferns with stubby-fingers; that blowsy strumpet,
Loosestrife; whole family trees of buddleia have
Shouldered and elbowed their way through
The best-laid plans, and flourish in the sun.