Save Me

At St. Paul’s church
We gathered
Praying
Oh, God save us
Oh, mother, protect us.

East ham, smells of curry
Faces from the Khans
Rajas and dust of the desert
Noises of the last white
Over the corner of the street
Faces strike me
Brown, black
White, pale
Bring me to you
Oh saver
And the last supper is approaching
And we’re gathered
Our bibles:
Small pocket books,
Yellow red coverings, tiny prints
And the joy of the upcoming
Glimpse of tomorrow

My words are shattered
My thoughts flattened
Be with me, be with us

Still inside the church
A mosque across the road
Still lost under the ground’s maze
Give me strength, Oh, one
Crosses, crescents,
Bulls, stars
World melting in hate outside
In the name of the son, the name of the one
The people, the homeland, or leader
Landing on my feet
Water under
Mountains before me
Chants of the gospels rising
Here we are finishing
Getting out of the church
Hoping to stand
In one Londony spring day
Praying, or fearing Luck
Lifting ourselves
To hit fourteen stones, holes
Doors,
Calls for everything to end
Save me
Save us
Pull us away
From the ghosts inside
And let me return to the desert
A light breezy sand