Lincoln Riots 1981

After the long hot summer of rioting
with cities in flames
Bristol   
Liverpool  
Birmingham
Nottingham 
and the rest 
we thought we’d have one too.
On St. Giles Estate 
four boys scaled a roof 
to let off fireworks no one saw.
It was mid-afternoon.
In the City Centre
around 4 pm
there was evidence of language
almost-chants of ‘fuck the pigs’
and on street drinking.
An unwisely parked police van 
with a mouthy future Councillor
who’d leapt inside mid-ruck
fearing for his safety 
after shouting
‘go home ruffians!’
was rocked about a bit and almost rolled.
There was minor scuffling 
and major jostling.
Arrests were made 
mostly for appearances sake.
A few suspended sentences 
a binding-over. Enough to satisfy
and energise the local press
(always sticklers for the truth)
who splashed in 25 point bold 
words and phrases
they’d been itching to for years
‘anarchy’
‘flashpoint’
‘disaffected youth’