Poetry in Motion

I came to Sheffield with the notion
that inside its famous snooker hall
I would surely see poetry in motion.
I wished to get inside the Crucible
but this time spectators were not
allowed into the sacred melting pot.

Then, written on Hallam Uni’s wall,
in large and noticeable letters,
I saw Andrew Motion’s poetry
welcoming the visitors to the city.
Its verses were in perfect symmetry
and had lines of the highest quality.

The poem, visible from the station,
is about the transience people feel
when visiting this vast conurbation
once known as the city of steel.
The work, which is titled “What if”,
urges us ‘to greet and understand

what lies ahead’. Then to pause
and ponder 'on the lives which
wait unseen as yet, unread.'
It is an apt aphorism because
it reflects the current situation
about the snooker championship.

The fans, though denied access,
might be disgruntled and fret
yet will look forward to the games
with great joy but also sympathy
to the difficult circumstances
brought about by the virus threat.

© Luigi Pagano 2020