A SPECIALLY commissioned poem about Lichfield has been gifted to the city during a dedication ceremony.
Laura Evans, owner of Cathedral Hearing, organised for local poet Joss Musgrove Knibb to write about the city.
It marks the first time a Lichfield poet has been commissioned to write a work about the city with the sole intention of giving it to residents for their enjoyment.
A ceremony saw the poem presented on an ornate hand-made scroll.
The poem, titled Lichfield From Above, was received on behalf of the city by the Mayor Cllr Rosie Harvey-Coggins and Louise Fleming, CEO of The Hub at St Mary's which will display the work. A copy will also be sent to every school in Lichfield.
The original idea for the poem came from a conversation between Laura Evans and Lichfield resident Julian Fisher.
Laura said:
"I am incredibly passionate about supporting the arts, so commissioning a local Lichfield poet to write about our city to celebrate its people, its culture and its unique character has been a dream come true.
"I did not anticipate how a small idea could grow into such a wonderful community project bringing so many people together. It felt fitting that the poem should belong to the people of Lichfield and remain accessible for years to come.
"A huge thank you to Julian and Joss for joining me on this journey, it has been an absolute joy to work with them.
"I am so very lucky to call the city my home. It is not just rich in beautiful buildings, culture and history, but in people – this project is proof of that.
"The poem has highlighted the fantastic community of Lichfield, schoolchildren, businesses, community groups, and volunteers."
Joss added:
"When Laura and Julian approached me to write the poem, I didn’t want the work to solely concentrate on Lichfield’s beauty and rich history.
"Although both are a vital part of this fascinating place, they’re only part of the story. This city was made and is maintained today by its people – their skills, trades and commitment.
"The poem is a celebration of all Lichfeldians’ heritage and place in our community. Lichfield is a historic, beautiful and wondrous place, and its people ensure it remains a vibrant and welcoming city.
"This poem is a personal thank you to the place I call home. Today, we’ve celebrated the city with dignitaries, community leaders, volunteers and friends at our special event.
"We’ve engaged with local schoolchildren, encouraging them to take joy in their own creative writing. The whole thing is a dream come true for any poet.
"Moving forward, I’m very excited by the prospect of the poem inspiring other artforms, including an exploration of the poem being set to music by the wonderful Cathy Lamb, our local MusicShare award-winning organist, conductor and teacher."
Lichfield From Above
Lichfield From Above
Rise up with me, rise up,
You will not fall,
Let's hover over church and hall and all
The busy happiness of place,
This place, this city built upon itself,
Its old foundations resting on the bones of Romans, Saxons, and of saints.
The city is a map of time laid out in beam and brick,
The centre thick with cobbles, lanes and spires.
The bells are choirs of ghosts long gone but clear enough
That if deep sleep forsakes you for the night,
They'll keep you company till light creeps in,
And city-sounds awake.
I would not take away or change a thing about my place,
Who could deface a stone and think themselves
A guardian of our home, this perfect patchwork left by souls who laboured here,
It is as dear as father, mother, family – at least to me.
And standing here we feel that love, that calling from another time
To keep it safe, to cherish it,
To live and perish gracefully within its boundary ditch,
This home, this Lichfield, city built by pilgrims and by trade,
This home we've made.
I write in praise of industry and intellect,
Of choristers who sing the Ave and Collect in ancient naves,
Of falcons nesting high up on the spires,
Of shop-bells, pubs and cafes, feasts and choirs.
You are a ship of time, and though your crews will change with every age,
And though the busy scholars try to pin you to the page
You travel on, through seas of love, and loss, and life,
And strife, and war, and peace, and progress.
You possess a spirit all of us can name,
Though ever changing, ever just the same.
I thank you, living city, for your providence,
For showing me the evidence that doing good is not a source of shame,
For all the souls who make life better, purely for the love of all of it,
Not fame or false acclaim,
For shining as a beacon to the heart,
For beauty and for poetry, spelt out in children, charity, and art,
In festivals and woods and light on water,
I am a daughter, and a pilgrim, long sent out to seek and roam,
And now, at last, I’m home.
Rise up with me, rise up,
We will not fall.
Rise up,
We are the lifeblood of it all.
The work of ages rests here in our hands,
A jewelled, strange machine creating
Love so fierce it binds us to this little plot of land,
This English city, reasonable and sane.
And when we’re gone and place the burden down
Another will rise up and lift it high again.
We are the preservation of this nation of Lichfeldians,
Custodians of something great, yet small.
Rise up, we will not fall.
Rise up, we will not fall.
In nightclub, factory and market square,
Guildhall, museum, library and Christmas fair,
There's life in motion there.
Come close, and listen to the music of a hundred babbling voices,
Let's eavesdrop on the tourists standing pondering their choices
Of which cafe, bistro, restaurant will get their trade.
Let's stand and watch the Bower-floats parade.
This city is just love and pride made manifest,
It is the best of us.
Rise up, and see the wonder that we made.
Rise up, and journey onward, unafraid.
Rise up, and make our hope a city wall,
That welcomes all the dispossessed by war.
We will not fail, or turn within, or falter,
From school and shopping centre, and from altar,
Rise up, and bless it all.
Rise up,
Rise up,
Rise up,
We will not fall.
