British Tribal Street Warfare

by Paul Tristram / April 10th, 2022

Pay close attention to the wall graffiti
… they don’t decorate Corners,
they’re Boundary Warnings.
Come upon Groups ‘Hush-Running’
[No noise except Bootfall]
other-direction-it quick sharpish
… people are about to get
Mob-Trampled and Punished.
You see or hear kids banging
metal upon metal [Drainpipes,
Fence-Railings, Manhole Covers]
it’s the Filth-Siren…
the Local Constabulary
have just entered into the edges
of Gangland Territory [Hide].
Screaming’s normally a ‘Lure’
… especial since mobile phones.
Don’t wear a backpack, numpty
… unless you’re in school,
or a Shotter working for a Dealer.
Terraced Streets are a Gamble
… Council Estates
are not Tourist Attractions [Ever]
and should be avoided at all costs,
approached only with Caution
or by the Idiotic and Suicidal.
A decent Street Working Girl
is an Environmental Library
… and can have you killed
with a single upheld Finger-Click.
‘The Rules are there ain’t no Rules’
… is a silly movie expression…
absolutely everything Matters
from leaving your Door to back again.

Paul Tristram is a widely published Welsh writer who deals in the Lowlife, Outsider, and Outlaw genres.  He wrote his first poem as a teenager following his release from the (Infamous) Borstal ‘HMP Portland’, and he has been creating Literary Terrorism ever since.  His novel ‘Crazy Like Emotion’ published by Close To The Bone Publishing is available to purchase right here Read other articles by Paul, or visit Paul's website.

This article was posted on Sunday, April 10th, 2022 at 8:02am and is filed under Poetry.