keen to make use of all the wonderful features on this site. so am attempting to load an audio recording i did a few years ago as part of a performance piece of poems put to music. if it works ok i may post a few more further down the line. influenced by john cooper clark, roger mcgough and patrik fitzgerald - maybe leans a little too much towards the music to be a 'real' poem (?)

Ian

HOSTILE STREET

Concrete cavalcade of death,

playing animal just for kicks.

Smoky rooms filled with hate -

listen as the switchblade flicks.

Someone skulks and waits for strays

with a broken bottle and arms to greet.

A twisted knife pulls humanity open

another victim on Hostile Street.

In the subway, spraying hate

from blue/red tins of auto paint,

a kid with feelings culture nurtured

bides his time and lays in wait.

The piss-stench tiles reflect a loser

slumping homeward - a gentle man -

humanity splits, blood will flow,

Hostile Street don't give a damn.

Victims, scarred, struggle home,

trying to cool the angry heat

that manifests in fear and hate

then breeds and lingers on Hostile Street.

Someone skulks and waits for strays

with a broken bottle and arms to greet.

A twisted knife pulls humanity open

another victim on Hostile Street.

In the subway, spraying hate

from blue/red tins of auto paint.

A kid with feelings culture nurtured

bides his time and lays in wait.

The piss-stench tiles reflect a loser,

slumping homeward - a gentle man -

humanity splits, blood will flow,

Hostile Street don't give a damn!