The Chance

We met in the city

In full view of the shiny towers
Of stone, steel and glass.
We met on some sidewalk
In full view of the people
Wandering past.

We spoke to each other
And even though we spoke different languages
We understood.
We looked at one another
And although time was running short
We did what we could.

We wrote our names and addresses,
Gave them to each other
And thought `maybe'.
And now it comes to writing a letter
All I can think is
`Maybe not'.

Birmingham, November 1986 - for Laurent

[An ultimately prophetic poem. It took until 1992 for the prophesy to 

come true.]