City of Culture

A response to the news that Hastings has applied to be City of Culture 2017

By John Knowles

Arms stretched in messianic glee
The clarion call has been set free
Bring down the walls not of Jericho
But of Asda, Lidl’s and Tesco.
Praise culture as the sticking plaster
Hail to thee the appointed ring master
Who conjures forth a prism of dazzling delight
Whilst the people of St leonards are walking in shite
No need here for the likes of Shakespeare
No need at all, we have half a burnt pier
What care we for quality art provision
Dress up as clowns and pour forth derision
Who needs the arts, the poets the writers
We’ve got streets full of Saturday night fighters
Why pay the musicians, they’ll play for free?
Why pay the musicians, they’ll play for free?

I love culture it’s been my bread and butter
It’s been the heart and soul, it took me from the gutter
But I think we need more than a few tossed platitudes
I think we need hard cash not just your gratitude.
Pay the piper, the poet and the performer, and be a City of Culture
Don’t just pick over the carrion like a culture vulture.

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