Black And White Tales Poem by Alistair Graham

I woke at 4am to
a deafening sound
I could hardly believe
my lovely ears

I heard magpies squabbling,
maracas and tambourines,
crashing cymbals,
a roaring raging sea

I heard waling whales
rattlesnake tails
pots and pans
hammers and nails
prisoners in cells
banging on rails
factory machines
injustice scales
public service screams
in private fire-sales
and I swear,
I heard those magpies
preaching black and white tales
concerning monarchs and millionaires
into the ears
and the heads of my children's children