shortlisted
So there he is at noon Dealing coke and ecstasy Trying to resist their temptation Barely keeping his family above poverty Moonlit streets, tearing through alleyways He hears a strangled yelp Sees a man dart from the shadows; nowadays There’s no time to ask for help His sister lies all alone clutching her knees in shame Rallies his “brothers”, for him this is honour For them, revenge is a game Coming home for two His mum is bruised and dad disappeared Sister’s still bleeding; neither knows Whose blood is it that’s smeared Head in hands comes a knock on the door Front page of the Express East end scum commits one more From his cell, his life a mess But what the police didn’t see Was his city without harmony Juggling jobs Violent home Late-night mobs Left all alone 22