High Street Poem Engraving - 'The Line' by Carmen Marcus

Today was a big day for poet, author and playwright Carmen Marcus.

Her poem ‘The Line’ has now been engraved into brickwork, with installation beginning today.

Carmen, who is from Redcar and is a fisherman’s daughter, was joined by her friends and son to witness the special moment the first brick was laid.

Commissioned by Redcar Town Deal as part of wider improvement works to the high street, the piece will stand as a lasting tribute to Redcar’s rich fishing heritage - celebrating the voices and stories that shaped the town.

To listen to Carmen reciting the poem, please visit: https://youtube.com/shorts/ocqMrMY9TUM

'The Line' by Carmen Marcus

Stop, take this line, a line as long

as this old town, a gift from me,

the Sea, to you. When you turn

your back I take first loves, last

breaths, your petalled griefs, let me

return a treasury of ghosts -

old Doggerland’s trees, the Gare’s selkies

Longships ghosted in coble hulls,

the creaking of coffin ships that

sail beyond the Brave Boys’ song, who

for all their strength can’t come along

a drownded ship.

I took 3,000 souls each year

who had to sail or risk the jail

until your Mr Plimsoll drew his line -

a load mark painted at bow and stern

between going off and coming home

and the line runs on

between

your stones, my skim

your skin, my salt

your flares go off

when I get rough

your first kiss tastes

of my spindrift

and the line won’t stop,

till you get down the Prom and breathe

to me and I’ll return a wave.