Tuesday 27 July 2010

A moment from my window

Tube trains rattle past the busy junction, some baring battle wounds of faded graffiti, the name tags of owners having long since dropped the can and picked up a suit and tie. The sun catches and shines on the carriage, signalling a lost message from the heavens. The moving trains capture my gaze, my mind travelling for a quick second along the same rail, and then the tube is beyond the window frame, out of my world.

I count buses – seven today caressing the kerb, all with adverts for a male deodorant telling us that it is ‘new, dry and sensitive’, conjuring images of metrosexual men with floppy hair, men who wouldn’t be seen dead on the bus.

A helicopter goes past, cutting the clouds in two. Criminals or traffic, I think, as it disappears behind the office blocks that gather and crowd the station. Blank windows stare back at me, reflecting yet more glass panes until you forget which is real and which is false. Some have strip lighting; some show the backs of a computer monitor. Most look completely empty, the recession clearly announced on the ‘To Let’ signs sagging from the exterior.

I can see two trees from my window – both sporting the grey green worn by vegetation close to industry. They seem marooned in amongst all the brick, glass and concrete. Birds occasionally circle and swoop from the tree nearest me – pigeons and magpies, scroungers and thieves. A plane rumbles high above, coming or going? Departing or arriving? I make a stab at the direction, arriving, I think, and then an email flashes and my moment is over.

What is life like from your window?

30 comments:

Jayne said...

This is the view from my full-time job; the view from where I write in the evening is completely different... although perhaps sometimes the mood is the same. :)

Rachna Chhabria said...

Jayne..the view from my window is of a tree, with its branches swinging in the breeze. The air is filled with the melodious bird choir of exotic birds perched on the tree. Monkeys gorge on the red berries and crows peck at the red fruit.

Wendy Ramer, Author said...

Not nearly as poetic as yours!

Jayne said...

Oh Rachna, that sounds gorgeous! I might borrow your tree, if that is okay.

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed this, and I'm enjoying the accompanying discussion. Thanks.

All the best, Boonsong

Amy Allgeyer Cook said...

From my window, I see a tree. That's all I can see unless I stand up to take in the garden (growing as much grass as tomatoes, cucumbers and beans)and the derelict little house beind us that's been for sale for months. I wish someone would buy it, love it and fix it up. It's a cute little cottage.

Happy Frog and I said...

From my window at work I can see a field with trees and sometimes a family of ducks walk by! At home I can see my garden which I find very inspiring. :-)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Sadly, my cubicle has no window...

Karen Jones Gowen said...

It's all green since our windows look out on either front lawn with trees or back lawn with trees. So lots of trees!

Anonymous said...

Love your description, Jayne.
I write in a small spare bedroom and the only position for the desk is facing the wall - minimum distraction! But if I turn to look out of the window I see a field, trees and sometimes a blue line of hills in the distance.

Karen Roderick said...

From my "paid" job window I see an old house I would love to live in. It's build from stone and has green painted windows. I can see into the front window where there's an old desk I imagine covered in dust. If I look over the roof of the house I see the pylons I know rest in the sand dunes.

Aubrie said...

Wow, all that from your window? I can see a few trees and the back of the townhouses behind me.

Eliza said...

There's only one window I can look out of at work. My favourite time is about four am it's just starting to get light and the birds have just started to sing, most humans are still in bed, so it's very peaceful.

Talli Roland said...

I'm sure I've seen that advert go by my window! The view from my window changes depending on the day, but there are always plenty of buses going by.

Carolyn V. said...

View from my window...lots of cars, sun and the mailman in his blue hat. =)

Old Kitty said...

Awww lovely prose - brings your view from your work window very much to life and vividly so!

The view from my little office window now is rather dark!! But I know I overlook some mature pine trees and hopefully I'll hear the owls!

Take care
x

Anne Gallagher said...

The lushness of the overgrown grass that is my backyard and of which I refuse to cut. My second generation tree on the fenceline, fence that I built with my own two hands. Beyond is the soybean fields of a ghost farmer who comes in the dead of night and further beyond is the tree line, the tops of the pines where the crows congregate to laugh at the deer.

Oh, and there are my two dogs rolicking.

The Words Crafter said...

Trees-oak, magnolia, and dogwood-all dripping with raindrops, shading the perimeters of our smallish property. They provide shelter to cats cutting through our back yard, the occasional rabbit visitor, many birds and a few squirrels. Flowers of all kinds and colors grow along the side of the yard that connects to the neighboring fence, their petals look dewy after the rain. The street behind me is quiet and thunder rumbles off in the distance...

This was fun and I loved your observations-a glimpse into your 'space'...

Ann Best said...

Your description is amazingly vivid; very poetic.

Outside the front window of the small duplex where I live with my daughter, the parked cars and trees are darkening. The streetlamps will soon blink on, and then yellow light will reflect off the upstairs window of the duplex on the other side of the square.

Kelsey (Dominique) Ridge said...

The view from my window isn't exactly poetic, but it has a certain nostalgic appeal. Its night time, and there are familiar trees and grass outside. I can tell you the history of the space with my eyes closed. I like that.

Janet O'Kane said...

My view is completely different to that from most people's offices - and I do appreciate how lucky I am. In the distance are fields of ripening corn and waving trees (it always seems to be windy this year). Closer to home are three hen sheds of differing sizes and states of decrepitude and numerous cockerels and hens (same description applies). I also currently have six chicks, and if I look closely I can see Bronson and McQueen, our regular escapees, on the wrong side of the fence.

Barbara Scully said...

Love your description of the changing view from your window. Might just do a blog post on the same theme as the view from my window is undergoing huge changes at the moment! Thanks for the inspiration!

Rose said...

the view from my job, honestly, is a wall. it's kind of beautifully ugly I suppose, it's a soho wall so I suppose it's seen a lot of action- maybe? It's down a side alley and we are two floors up so mostly it's just white and wall like.

Carol Kilgore said...

Nice.

My view is of a suburban cul-de-sac. One tree per yard. Ours is a medium-size live oak. Green grass this year because we've enjoyed an abundance of rain. A hummingbird feasting on a clump of red flowers in a large pot.

Yesterday, a group of mockingbirds were attacking a roadrunner, but I saw the roadrunner later, so he escaped just fine.

Jackee said...

Well said, Jayne!

I love my view, it's a monsoon storm curving around the mountain while my fields of bee clover sway with each gust blowing the clouds closer.

:o) Have a great day!

Lola Sharp said...

I see my pool and lots of flowers.

But, I like your version a lot...and you have guests who can see monkeys out their windows!

Talli Roland said...

Jayne, thank you so much for your lovely comment on my blog. :) So much appreciated!

Joanne said...

At this moment from my window, I see a gorgeous man meandering up the drive - oops, it's my husband! And, a black cat with a built-in bean bag lying on the deck, lapping up the winter sun. It's a pretty good view, I guess. :)

Stephanie Thornton said...

I've recently moved my writing area to our turret so I have a lovely view of Cook Inlet and Mt. Redoubt. Alaska is lovely!

Jayne said...

I absolutely loved reading about what you all can see from your window! It was like a little glimpse into your world - trees, escapee ducks, racy Soho walls, monkeys! Fantastic. :)