FOLLOWER

and i follow her down the subway steps
to the draughty platform where the lovers wept
and watch her little vanity check
her eyeliner and hair

and i follow her through the railway van
the rush-hour crush in a sardine can
past the hopeless drunk and his broken family
the rhythm of the rails

and i follow her out into the night
through the jostling crowd and the elbow fight
and she wanders in and out of sight
and almost shakes me off

follower pursuer hunter viewer

and i follow her through the bloodless streets
down the grimy alley where the lovers meet
past the peeling walls that spill no secrets
mystery in the air

and i follow her into the old cafe
where the sweethearts idle time away
where no-one cares what music they play
and she stares into her glass

and i follow her up the creaking stairs
past the wasted girl and her jaded wares
past the huddled men and their vacant stares
to a seedy neon bar

and i peer inside the smoky room
and watch her vanish in the gloom
now i am the object of pursuit
the tables have been turned

blinded by the light shining in my eyes
trailed by the electronic spies
photographed and scrutinised
data filed and analysed

followed pursued hunted viewed