Low-slung sun of October
caught and embraced those gathered,
on steps, hemmed by fountain,
and Victorian revived Roman.

There are statues amongst the passers-by,
rooted by makeshift placards
fashioned from discarded cardboard
with chalk marked ironies.

Tank girl, hair part shaven and
dyed flame red, is slender and strong
holds, 'This is a sign' on the reverse,
in bold print, it read FRAGILE.