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South Bank Centre

Nestled among the shining peaks
of flashing glass and girded steel,
gilded mansions enjoyed by sheiks;
who queue for nearby Ferris wheel;
near Parliament’s Gothic seat,
Shakespeare’s Elizabethan Globe,
It sits, grey, brutal, pure concrete
shameless without a cladded robe.
It’s naked beauty clads itself
around creativeness within.
I am it shouts, I am myself
without a falsifying skin.
With jutting angles, edges hard,
it’s beauty is more honest than
the Pickle, Telephone, or Shard
I will forever be a fan.

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Gary Radice

Date: 8/13/2025 12:03:00 PM

I think this is great work Terry. It deserves many more views and comments in my personal opinion. I'm one of those northerners that love London. Yes it's a gigantic Theme Park with its own transit system but nestled amongst the old, new and shards of glass that scratch the sky there is the beautiful (and yes, I do mean beautiful) brutalist Barbican and of course The South Bank Centre "shameless without a cladded robe." Yesss! Cheers - Gary

Terry Miller
Date: 8/13/2025 2:28:00 PM

I'm ex RN so often stay at the Union Jack Club by Waterloo Station I love the South Bank, Tate Modern, Old Vic, and a stroll across Waterloo bridge and you are in Covent garden And the ROH and all that lies between. Thank you so much for your comments on this write, it made my day!

Bill Baker

Date: 8/5/2025 4:36:00 PM

Good poetry, Terry. I've been looking at picture of the architecture in Saudi Arabia lately and it is beautiful and next generation stuff, my friend. Absolutely beautiful and intriguing. Have a pleasant evening, Bill

Terry Miller
Date: 8/13/2025 2:29:00 PM

Thank you Bill