ANTHEM OF THE NORTH

by Lemn Sissay

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The poet and author spent the first 12 years of his life in Ashton-in-Makerfield where he was placed with a foster family shortly after his birth in 1967. Here, reproduced with his permission, is a poem he wrote in 2018 to launch the Great Exhibition of the North in Newcastle

The North Star leads the way

To the mountain top in awe

That, my friend, is why they say

Up up up… North

And so we build year after year

And we rise tide after time

We bring light to darkness

And we shine

Welcome to our future

And all she endows

This is our dream, our vision

This is our power, our house

This is the backbone of Britain

And they say it is cold

But there is nothing warmer

Than a Northern Soul

Even the tides of oceans speak of you

Upon their chosen course

“Bring as many waves as you can” they say

“for we are heading North”

And they come in waves to kiss our coast –

Urged on by the North Wind

The surge of river greets the Sea

“Come in” it says “come in”

The A’s the E’s the I’s the O’s the U’s

Flocks of vowels fill the night with song

Great they are and migrate they do

The North is where they belong

Daughters of suffragettes sons of mines

The digital revolution – the creation

True North you North

You heart of our nation

And our children grow wings

And soar across this earth

But home they are assured

Is the greatest place on earth

Oh North North I love you

You made me the best I could be

You waited with open arms

And took in a stranger like me

We are the beautiful North

The darkness of night bows

We are a waterfall of light

This is our power, our house