Ian Caws
Banners
At this time of year, between afternoon
And dusk, sky, though stretched, is near enough to
Tug on as if it were a kite. Below
The breakwaters, a shining tide slid down
Over rock pools leaving us silence like
The echo of a silence. The sun spread
Richly, its rituals starting to grow
Behind the coastguard tower and the board
Of the Old Pier. The river had the look
Of metal. At first I thought it was breeze—
It sounded part of the place, just as clear
And resonant as the scene round me. Or
It might have been the wires. Then the banners
Put me right, struck into the sand along
The beach, growing out of human huddles,
Trying to stake to earth something of their
Drifting music. Invisible cradles
Were rocked on the women’s arms and each song
Was like a pulled plant reaching for rain. Black
Cockneys, first generation maybe, sang
Of old Israel as if they had not long
Been away, while on their banners stitchwork
Sure as light had them from the crumbling streets
Of South London. I left them singing. Their
Sound was all they were, complete, containing
All they could leave and all that I could share,
Trying almost to touch those fading notes.
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