Reflections on Grenfell and the fifth anniversary

I went to the tower today

I sat beneath its looming; the red lift line weekend quiet;

I listened to soul-sad music and pulled my hoodie up

To stop people seeing the wetness on my cheeks;

The planters added year after year

Filled with spring coloured promise;

Re-reading messages of the nowness of missing and sorrow and love

Touched by the children’s stick drawings so innocent and sweet

… of futures and families and laughter lost as if in a dream.

The buckets of dead flowers tidied and stacked waiting to be removed

And replaced by fresh symbols of anniversaries

And grief…

29th May, 20222