Learning from the Streets

At some point, it crossed my mind, that we might start to think about taking down the rainbows from our windows, just like we stopped clapping, I know friends who already have, and their words about this have shaped some of what I have tried to convey here. For what the rainbow symbolises feels nothing like the promise, the hope, and the reality of the last 6 weeks.

Is it time to take the rainbows down? 

The ones that colour the town

The pictures of hope and promise

unity and people that we miss

 

Is it time to take the rainbows down?

For what did they symbolise?

A dream, a promise, a fight?

Colour at the end of the night?

 

Is it time to take the rainbows down?

Hazy days of April, when we pulled together

did what we could, for each other

Rainbows of hope, goodness and care

 

Is it time to take the rainbows down?

they’re stuck in the mind

A time during the crisis

when we acted more kind

 

Is it time to take the Rainbows down?

From windows in the land

even though we still cant

shake each others hand

 

Is it time to take the rainbows down?

Society did shake?

when people were valued

it was never fake

 

Is it time to take the rainbows down?

for the virus has revealed

that humans are more kind

than governments believed

 

Is it time to take the rainbows down?

Its become more about me

Where others are sacrificed,

for idols of economy. 

 

Is it time to take the rainbows down?

did we go through that for a Big Mac of mince?

the rule breaking, entitlement

and gaslighting ever since

 

Is it time to take the Rainbows down?

where is the light?

Those who survived, have done it despite

A leadership so wreckless and treats us as shite

 

Is it time to take the rainbows down?

we all went through the hassle

of keeping the rules

aside from tourists to Barnard Castle

 

Is it time to take the rainbows down?

For division and confusion rule

When decisions are made,

that treat us as fools.

 

Is it time to take the rainbow down?

When money talks, hope is tattered

What did we hope for

And do we feel shattered?

 

Is it time to take the rainbows down?

They symbolised hopes and dreams

that never came, though that’s what we wanted

new normal, new world, so..

 

Is it time to take the rainbows down?

And replace them with something more concrete

Than pictures in windows

And life more complete?

 

Is it time to take the rainbows down?

hope hasn’t gone

 lets make it more loud

Unite over neighbours, unite over equality

 

Is it time take the Rainbows down?

still love our neighbour,

protect and care, 

act with love, as we’re made too

kindness isn’t rare. 

 

Is it time to take the rainbows down?

Is that promise still there?

it is if we find it, 

along with dreams can we dare?

 

Shall we paint far more rainbows?

and fill life with colour and zest

and create a society

that treats others as the best

 

Lets add far more rainbows, 

keep promises of hope

and love, care and faith

believing in better than 

oppression and hate. 

Is it time to take the rainbows down?