ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE
Sean Henry’s sculptures in Woking town centre
by Greg Freeman
1 Woman (Being Looked At)
All eight foot something and then
some, glowering over shoppers
at the entrance to the mall.
Sideways look, window gazing,
or trying to evade the stares.
Is that a half-smile? Midriff-revealing
top, the shortest of shorts.
Cast work aside, dashed out
in her break. He hasn’t shown.
When will she learn?
She feels a fool, so exposed.
Last time she does something like this.
Five minutes longer, no more.
Tries to pretend she’s not waiting.
Bit of a Plain Jane, her father once called her,
when he thought she wasn’t listening.
2 Standing Man
Perhaps a coffee in the church café
before it closes. Cheap if not cheerful.
Never wanted the job in the first place.
Maybe should have worn a tie?
You always muck it up.
Language, remember where you are.
That woman hanging around
in the precinct, might you
chat her up? Not your type,
too tall, too young. You’re no
oil painting, you short-arse,
your glory days long gone.
But still … Forget it, best go home,
get it over with, never grovel,
but don’t blurt out the first thing in your head.
Maybe you could write a novel.
3 The Wanderer
I’ll always get work. May not
look much but I pack a punch.
The places down this road,
you should see them late.
They spill out into the street.
So, a job on the door.
Hair cut? I like it this way.
This town used to have a reputation.
Less money around, the games they play
on social media. Who knows?
Don’t tell me my way of life
is dying. There’ll always be fools
out for trouble on a Saturday night.
My hero? Ian Dury, since you ask.
Looked great, and had a way with words.
And Dion and the Belmonts, I suppose.
4 Seated Man
Nothing in or out of the station
since God knows when. A jumper
further up the line. Some
commuters tut-tut loudly,
mutter No consideration.
What makes them do it?
It’s the drivers you feel sorry for,
need time off to recover.
Time. What does it matter?
If not today, then tomorrow.
All by myself on platform one.
People looking, schoolkids laughing.
A working man with skills no longer wanted.
Tried to keep up appearances, now
I just don’t care. Everyone needs a destination.
Makes you want to … no, don’t go there.
Woking Writers Circle 