At The Edge

Police diverted the traffic. Sirens blared, Little girls being driven to dancing classes In plumes and tutus, fumed Why doesn’t he bloody well do it? the taxi driver complained I call it selfish, holding everyone up, white van man growled Maybe he thinks he’s an angel, joked the boy, filming the towerblock It’s a sign of dysfunctional society, the sociologist said The Lord have mercy, prayed the minister What’s the betting they cut his giro? moaned the beggar Will there be much mess? pondered the ghoul If he jumps now, he’ll hit the evening headlines, cried the TV team And then, like a newsprint aeroplane, he leapt. And the traffic moved off again The day patched up the ripped out page of disruption