Opera Squad at King Leadership Academy, Liverpool 23/9/19

‘Singing’s easy. Have you ever held
a newborn, heard it scream?
Did you ever wonder
how a tiny scrap like that could make
such thunder?
That’s what we do, fill our lungs
with such an ecstasy of breath,
and fill our frames from top to toe
with sound. It’s easy.’

‘Yes Sir, I tried exactly that,
but in the falling brick, the lightning
detonation, to breathe was hard.
I managed through my gagging scarf,
and sure, the sound I made
was whole, entire.
I howled my mother, dead and dusty,
sprawling at my feet. And now I’m here.
Is that what you meant, Sir? Sir?’