Memorials Appear – Anon.

In a stone and thistle field north of the city
Next to a broken fence
A shiny brass plaque appears.
Flowers are laid quietly and candles lit gently
Burn softly through the night.
Strangers come and stand in silence numb.
A hi-viz vested local worker when asked red-eyed says,
“I just had to pay my respects, I just had to pay my respects.”

Under cover of darkness in the heart of the city.
Down the bluestone lane of hope
A large graffiti artwork appears.
Young artists working hard focus direct
Across the from the doorway of Youth Projects
Bold rich and strong. It says
 “We just had to pay our respects, we just had to pay our respects,”

Pieced together around noon on Sunday
Thirty thousand souls ghostlike appear
Shuffling Sydney Road southwards.
Engulfing trams each one heavy hearted a living memorial.
Each one hope filled magnified many fold for those not here.
A young father holding child with balloon says monotone
“We just had to pay our respects, we just had to pay our respects,”

Here in final moments an uplifting word would merely be token.
As it’s best that for now neither history nor the truth be spoken.
As I come to reflect all I have to say is,
“I just had to pay my respects, I just had to pay my respects.”