Birmingham
this city is so loud it’s been years
since I last heard myself
think years since I last stepped outside
headphoneless meandering through
the shoppinghaul crowd glass channelisation
of inner-city life if I close my eyes
this city vanishes carried away
by the trickling waves of Sigrid lyrics
come the end of May this corridor of performance
will house colours of rebellion
redorangeyellowgreenindigoviolet
perhaps a few will know more of progress
than of history brandishing love
with a profit when the crowds collect
watch a community stride and dance
to anthems of freedom they’ll see
two people holding hands
and smile long past rainbows wrung out
folded away into boxes at the back
of a store cupboard someone told me
next year is your year I’ve not met you
but I hope your face might drown out the noise
