I love walking around this city…
I live walking from one side to the other –
from the China Town on the East side
to the Jewellery Quarter on the West Side –
and exploring all the sights and sounds
that make this bustling city
the city of inclusion that it is,
that has waiting around every corner
a wealth of inspiration
to fuel the imagination
and drive the pen of any poet…
there are mesmerising murals
of artistic expression to be found
painted upon the walls.
There are diamonds of beauty
to be found in even the darkest
of alleyways and streets…
there are towers of metal and glass
standing alongside old brown brick
buildings that used to house
so many renowned staples of
manufacture and innovation
in many different and varied forms –
from transport to metallurgy –
that originated from the heart
of this great country
and to this day still drive
the engine of this country.
There are places of natural beauty…
There are places of sacredness…
There are landmarks that define this city
which every visitor is advised to see,
document, and share that cannot
be found anywhere else –
for example: the bronze statue of
“The Birmingham Bull” that stands outside
one of the entrances to
the Bullring shopping centre,
the sprawling canal system,
the world-renowned Birmingham
Indoor and Ourdoor Markets,
as well as all the other quintessential
gifts that the city of Birmingham
adds to the British people’s
diverse mixture of history, culture,
languages, accents, and individuality.
Birmingham has been the birthplace
of many public figures who have risen
to a state of recognition over the years…
ever since it was founded
Birmingham’s many city streets
have been where all kinds
of people have entered the public
imagination and have made
a name for themselves…
Birmingham has always boasted
having several unique individuals
who have never been afraid to make their
uniquely sounding voice be heard
far and wide, morning, noon, and night –
and every day I have witnessed
the people and the different quarters
of this city sparkle, shine,
emanate, and embody what
puts the “Great” in Great Britain –
the city that I know and
which have walked many miles around:
the city of Birmingham.
