The buffet is now closed....

Confinement
The brakes go on and the air con slows
I’m regretting choosing this side of the train
Praying for that tiny cloud to block the sun
Running for the train didn’t help
“Barcelona right, Barcelona right it’s not bad for clubs and nightlife and that”
is the hot topic from the hen party behind
“But it were rubbish for shopping” they peck on,
the cloud is creeping towards the sun
the brakes are still on.
The hens are now scratching over the number slices in a loaf, their hangovers and how to fill a new fridge freezer
Come on cloud, just a few more yards
I shake a few drops of warm water from my bottle.
Out the window, on the lip of the cutting are banners for lidl and gala bingo
along the line the flags turn to barbed wired and rotating spikes
a bit harsh for an Argos and then the cloud blocks the sun
and I see Peterborough nick, the roof vents are open but the windows are closed
heat devils are rising off the tiles.
The suns back, out from behind the cloud
“maybe we’ll try spa break next year”
There’s a judder and we move into the station.