Editorial
For more poems written during a course delivered by Jane Spiro in Exeter College, Oxford, UK, see Year 10; Issue 5; October 2008 and year 11 Issue 1; February 2009.

Cities: Poems from an Oxford Summer, 2008

Moments in Cities

A colonial-type city up in the north
You’ll be impressed by people’s sense of hope.
Once visited it will remain in your thoughts
And will be regarded by you with love.

Juan Jose Lalupu (Peru)

Cusco

Cusco, sacred name, sacred as the sun
You sheltered a great civilisation
The immortal Incas who guard you now
Your natural magic attracts people from the world
Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuaman and Pisac are some of your beauties
That makes us proud.
Cusco invisible bastion of our race
You are always in our hearts.

Pola Mellado (Peru)

Las Ramblas, Barcelona

To begin at the beginning.
It is morning in Las Ramblas.
The sun is coming out.
The late-night revellers are stumbling home.
The smell of churros is drifting away.
The city cleaners are hosing the litter away.
The flowers in the stalls are about to be set free.
The colours are filling the air.

Imma Cristina, Nemesia Cutillas, Carmen Gomez (Spain)

Karl Johan Street, Oslo

To begin at the beginning.
It is an early spring morning
On Karl Johan, Oslo.

The late night revellers
are staggering home to bed
spew spew spew spew.

The runners are padding softly by –
pitter patter pitter patter

The ski-skaters are coasting by –
Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh.

The brisk business people
are pouring out of the metro -
click clack click clack.

The beggars are looking piteous –
please, please, please, please.

The drug addicts are sprawling in the park –
I’m out of it, completely out of it.

The pensioners are gazing
into shop windows -
If only – if only.

Kumi Tommerbakke

Places and Feelings

Love is powerful. It gives you wings.
Love is powerful. It makes you dream.
Love is powerful. If gives you strength.
Love is powerful. It makes you happy.

Happiness is a brook. It can sweep troubles away.
Age is a bowl. You fill it with experience.

Imma Cristina (Spain)

***

Luxor, Trujillo,
Britannico, Bangkok,
Inca

Healthy olive tree
Quiet beach

Olive tree Luxor
Family Trujillo
Motivating Britannico
Beach Bangkok
Humped-back Inca

Humped-back whales

Kumi Tommerbakke (Norway)