Letter

[abu nuwas]

It is perhaps best thought of as a prose-poem. I think the idea of the bored prostitute, with a fag in her mouth, is maybe cliche, or stereotypical. The scene unfortunately reminded me of one of my brother's mates in the RAF, going down to the Big Smoke, and returning very excited after having been to somewhere in Soho. Eventually, he let on, that all the time he had been going up and down like a pig, she had been eating fish and chips. Once I remembered this, the poem was done for. Sorry--but, I do have a taste for these suburban dramas, the very stuff of life for the man on the Clapham omnibus. Take no notice of that other fellow... I am sure that it reads well aloud.