Making my merry way back to Leeds after a lovely time in Bristol (which I do miss). Obviously I am on the glamorous Megabus – and am sat just behind the hand (see picture) of its jolly/sinister/jolly sinister blue and yellow mascot, branded on its side…Is it a smile or a smirk, Mr Megabus?

Sometimes you have to keep yourself occupied on a five hour journey and I thought I would use the image of being sort of ‘in’ a hand for some writing stimulus. Also, a repeated refrain can be rather fun to work with, pushing you to view one thing in many ways…

I Am Sat Behind His Hand

I am sat behind his hand
and it is translucent, ghostly.

I am sat behind his hand
which I have crossed with
minimal silver.

I am sat behind his hand
and his fingers frond from my head:
a cockerel.

I am sat behind his hand
and the landscape flees his grip.

I am sat behind his hand
while he grabs at the pylons, pulls
at the sun.

I am sat behind his hand
so my face, these lines,
are his palm’s fortune.

I am sat behind his hand,
resting my head on his thumb.

I am sat behind his hand
so he pixelates the dusk.

I am sat behind his hand
as he ghosts above the M5.

I am sat behind his hand
pulling pictures from between his
sausage digits.

I am sat behind his hand
snacking and about to be snacked.

I am sat behind his hand
to be placed in his pocket, a pen.

I am sat behind his hand
strapped in, ticking round his wrist,
keeping watch.

I am sat behind his hand:
Tom Thumb, emerging from a sleeve.

I am sat behind his hand
and his branching fingers
ruffle the leaves.

Megapoetry? Perhaps not – but at least I’m not playing loud music through my phone…