Who?

Sometimes,
Every now and again,
We need to erase people
From history.

We strip them of awards,
Take down plaques and paintings,
Throw old tape into skips
And burn stuff,

Signed photos and t-shirts,
Ticker tape and old contracts;

Why deal with things
When we have fire?

We whisper suspicions in hindsight
And rattle our tutting
Like huge dripping drainpipes;

Why deal with things
When we have the rain?

Gallons of dirty water
Lapping against the stains
We’ve been slowing leaving here
For decades;

Why deal with things
When we can rebuild?

Hundreds of glass buildings
Reaching high and echoing the sky,
Catching our reflections
And just sometimes asking ‘why?’