A Painting In Hackney
By Paul McCann


I was waiting for a bus in Hackney
and lifted my eyes to the sky.

I was so surprised and delighted
with the picture that had caught my eye .

A master piece of Jazz music
had been painted on the side of a wall

There where bright yellow notes on a staff,
and there where golden trumpets and all.

With a slight leaning to reggae,
hinting a west Indian influence

Slicked up colours in slapped up brush strokes
created an electric presence,

This picture of music and life screamed out in Hackney
Beside a bus stop .

I wish I could have took the bricks
and put them on display in some art shop.

But art shops are all over Hackney,
On the sidewalks each face you can make.

A few smiles for a canvas
A few bob for the poor or art for arts sake .