Carlisle Road

Pushing up on Carlisle Road into the seething shadows
Through the plastic visor â" a hail of broken kerbstone
Fire-lit-faces, all the noise â" so much hatred
What I remember thinking â" I can't believe this is happening
All I remember thinking

Came home four, four-thirty, Emma was waiting up for me
News chanel drone on the TV, her arms clapsed around her knee
She looked up but said nothing
I went up to the kids bedroom, touched their sleeping faces
Wondered how I could protect them
Wondered how to protect them