Hanover Street is a beautiful street.

I bought a scarf there once.

Hanover street is two minutes

from Oxford Circus tube station.

Lots of people come out of the tube

and walk down Hanover street.

The woman did.

In the heart of west end shopping

there’s the jewel of

Hanover Street.

It has shops and clubs

and tons to do.

I feel optimistic there.

You can always buy

a banana on Hanover Street.

The woman did.

People are building wonderful

new structures on Hanover Street.

Penthouses, offices, art galleries.

It will ‘transform the environment’

on Hanover Street:

so exciting

On Hanover Street

heavy window frames

hang from cranes.

They can hang there

all night.

They hang over shops pavements,

over people

having a good time there.

Hanover Street leads to Hanover Square.

The woman was going there

eating a banana.

On Hanover Street

new buildings are nearly finished.

Look, the substantial window frames,

the ones that were hanging from the cranes,

are propped against the wall.

The wind is gusting down Hanover Street

Look, the woman’s hair is blowing about.

It’s a smart part of town

in Hanover Street.

On that bright morning in Hanover Street

the woman was wearing black and white,

eating a banana

and coming from Oxford Circus tube station.

There are classy hotels near Hanover Street:

they advertise fantastic deals.

Perhaps the woman works in one of them

or at John Lewis round the corner.

Or is she a lawyer?

In black and white she looks so chic

hair blowing

on Hanover Street

The large window frames,

(they say they weigh half a ton)

propped against the wall on Hanover Street,

catch  a gust of wind,

and move.

She sees,

she runs on Hanover Street.

The frames fall faster

crush her in the seconds she passes

with her hair blowing

banana in hand.

You never hear screams on Hanover Street:

Mayfair is a secluded place,

there is no need for

noise to travel two blocks.

But here’s screaming  and running

on Hanover Street.

Builders bankers shoppers tourists:

it takes 6 people

to lift the frames.

They say they were part of the new art gallery.

Builders weep

on Hanover Street.

They watch the woman

with the banana and the beautiful hair

die.

Liz Callingham