Early one morning
On a high street like any other
Before the retail giants had even begun to yawn
I saw a man asleep in a doorway

In the window of that same establishment
A well-known clothing outlet
Written in garish pink, were the words
‘Summer Wardrobe Essentials’

It occurred to me,
If that man did have a wardrobe,
It was the rucksack which now doubled
As a makeshift pillow under his sleeping head

The overcoat duvet
Was perhaps further evidence
That he and I might differ in our view
Of ‘essential’ summer clothing

It’s probably safe to assume nonetheless
That the bikinis on the faceless mannequins
Behind the window with the words
Would not be something either of us would consider

Summer Wardrobe Essentials