Surface Noise

Above the water, against the wind
Feel the stones through your soles to your feet
Trying to get away from
Or make up for
Another cut glass sleep
Hiding away past Norfolk Street
Exactly where you're meant to be

Shattered voices break the surface the noise
And shattered bottles too
Then your hot-stepping feet
Are dodging debris
Down the back lane route
Where clapped-out cars creep a yard or two
The beat the warden’s pocket book

Four-storey buildings chill thе streets
You pull up your scarf to your chin
Certain that you've had enough of yoursеlf
But you come round again
You grant yourself a side-eyed grin
Every no-one deserves a win

Your breath breaks through the surface noise
You tighten your scarf round your throat
Sometimes the grind
Gives what you need
And sometimes it won't
Sometimes it gives what you need
Most of the time it won’t