Hallelujah

(For the re-opening concert of Birmingham Town Hall)

These lights welcome everyone…welcome us all…in woolen cape… shalwar… in kishti… and shawl…in African mud dress – naturally died…see buba…see evening dress… stand side by side with… Burberry mac…anorak…shalwar kameez…and leggings…and tunics that fall to the knees…I’m drowning in laughter… I’m floating on smiles… I’m dizzily watching a catwalk of styles…orange and purple…green…turquoise and black… asoke hat…kofi hat…hair that’s tied back… in ponytails…pigtails…in French Plaits… and bands…a ceiling of stars shines the base of chrome stands… a flip-flop of sandal… a travel sick heel… high boots… and stilettos… and worn soles that squeal from brown shoes… from black shoes… to silver and gold… a hurry of Hush Puppies run from the cold…. and saris …and opera cloaks…long cashmere coats…and silk scarves that sail from the soft sheen of throats…wrapper skirt… dapper shirt… dickie bows… ties…bee-wasp-striped-zebra print shouts of surprise…we’re shipwrecked on carpets… we’re drifting down aisles…two boys in blue blazers write squiggles of smiles… then someone announces a five minute call… and the tide of Brum rises…re-christens the hall… the foyer is quiet now…nobody comes… and stewards relax to the twiddling of thumbs…and organ notes rise…and the fanfare begins…and from floor …wall… and ceiling… the ghosts of men sing:
Hallelujah