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