✴︎ now this

a short piece about walking in one of my favourite cities, a love letter to London, adapted for an open mic reading.

first performed in atlanta in july 2025.

I started walking as soon as I stepped foot in London, and I do not think I ever stopped. I walked with family, with friends, with friends of friends; with groups, in groups; for work, for fun, for purpose; when it rained, when it shone, when it snowed (sometimes all in the same day). 

But I really walked best when I was by myself – getting lost in the city almost every day; my earphones in, my mind wandering almost as much as my feet, the cool air always in my face. 

The following piece is my tribute to some of these moments, and all those walks.

walking…along the winding river
in the evenings after work
the entire city at my feet, literally
in the mornings after late nights
the sun kissing my shoulders
passing by hordes of tourists

walking…the smells of the city in my nose
of mint hot chocolate and mulled wine in the winter
of overpriced sticky candied peanuts in the autumn 
of cheap fried food all year round
of sweaty buskers and runners
of weed, piss and rats

walking…in the park on windy days
leaves swirling dramatically around me
the wind deafening in its refrain

walking….sticking my tongue out to catch snowflakes
the lake in the park, almost frozen
five ducklings waddling on it in a single file

walking….on pebbled beaches and cobblestoned paths
more than one pair of shoes ruined when it rained

walking…across bridges connecting the old and the new
walking…along roads connecting the abundant and the few

walking….across red brick houses along quiet, dusty lanes
wondering about the people in those big houses
stepping silently, but noisy in my head

walking to the bookstore, to the tube, to the museum
walking to the stadium, to the pool, to nowhere in particular

walking to hidden gardens with peacocks and koi
walking to find secret patches with silent swings
walking past graffiti, and banksy 
walking past statues for the brave

walking while on the phone to my family
walking to collect food sent from home
walking while sipping on cheap cocktails
walking towards greasy pub dinners

walking to post the mail, and to go bowling
walking to get a dramatic haircut, and then a tattoo

walking with a smile on my face
walking with my fists clenched
walking with my heart in the pit of my stomach
but mostly walking with my eyes wide in wonder

walking to explore this beautiful city
and then walking home, too.