I catch a 31
to Camden Town
to pick up a 253
to Hackney Central
there to change
to a 279
to Waltham Cross
as I do
each morning
going to school.
The recorded voice
clear & precise
announces the stages
of our journey.
But today the tape
encounters a slight irrregularity
and its precison is distorted
into glides and stops & starts.
'2 Fruppy Truppy
to Happney Stripnal.'
'F**k Lock Rd! '
it announces in all innocence.
Seven Sisters Road
remains uncorrupted
but we arrive at
Fins Furry Station.
The bus is
in stitches
not knowing where we are
going to go to...next.
Alas I have to get off
& catch an uncorrupted 279
to Waltham Cross.
And now I am back
in the ordinary world of
'Woodberry Grove.'
'Tottenham Swan.'
'Lordship Lane.'
My mind still journeying on
to Happney Stripnal
on board a 2 Fruppy Truppy.
Dónall Dempsey
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-2-fruppy-truppy-for-miss-s/