Americans in Bloomsbury

One empty Sunday
on all fours
in the soot
of Bedford Street
we were rubbing
coal-hole covers
with cobblers’ wax
and shelf paper

when this black preacher
halted over us crying Praise God
our young folks
down on their knees!
The Lord given you
eyes to see!
He was from Tampa.

Two Londoners
with a woolen child
appalled
and fearing converse
crossed
to the other side
with small glances
like pigeon droppings.