camden. the bus
flipped like a swing
in bad weather
with somebody
kicking their heels.
11pm. earth gone
grey in salty
shades of orange.
the shops all closed, bars
curled open,
like flowers
giving way to night-
time flowers. someone
already hammered,
being sick in a corner
next to a fish shop.
pavement alive
like a pond
with ducks.
a part of the city
with evening in shades,
beautiful and busy.
stylish people
and shirts
bought from second
hand stores.

DS Maolalai has been nominated eight times for Best of the Net and five times for the Pushcart Prize. His poetry has been released in two collections, Love is Breaking Plates in the Garden (Encircle Press, 2016) and Sad Havoc Among the Birds (Turas Press, 2019).