Safety Pin

Will a safety pin be enough

To quell the din of racism

And help those on the sharp end of abuse

Loosen xenophobia’s noose?

Are you pinning your hopes on too little?

You’ve made your quiet point

But will you intervene

When the hate becomes the physical obscene

Or is this just a silent symbol

To make you feel clean?

Frank McMahon is a poet, writer, performer, and organiser and founder member of DIY Poets collective in Nottingham.

Author Statement: “I’m a founder member of DIY Poets, which has been running for fourteen years. I enjoy producing both poetry for the stage and for the page. I have written nearly 1500 poems, but hopefully there is quality as well as quantity in my work!”