reading the report

for years I had been told
fans had broken turnstiles
that they were drunk
stole from dead fans

I had been told
they didn’t have tickets
that they smelt of alcohol
that everyone was dead by 3.15

I had been told
that the police and coroner
only dealt with facts
and always told the truth

yesterday I found out
everything I had been told
was a lie       everything

©  Jim Bennett

Hillsborough report: 41 of the 96 dead 'had potential to survive'

Author of 67 books and proprietor of Poetry Kit, Jim tours throughout the year giving reading and performances of his poetry and songs.