Sir, At a time when the victims, families and friends of victims, and survivors of the 2017 Manchester Arena atrocity were remembered, I include below a poem I wrote a day or two after that tragic event.

The cowardly act that targeted innocent young and trusting music lovers and gig goers resonated with me as an avid music fan of over 50 years and, more importantly, as a parent of children who have grown up into beautiful young adults who, like their dad, love music and all the healing, uplifting and emotive powers for good that music brings to their lives and their memories.

As fortunate as we are to live here in this paradise that we call Tenby, that we call home, many, many of us support local live music and travel to numerous cities throughout the UK and Europe to enjoy live performance and the Unity and Strength shown by the people of Manchester exemplifies the defiance, in the face of those that would wish to cause harm, that we all support.

Support live performance near and far at all times.

LET THE MUSIC PLAY

Before the light,

the blinding light,

there was warmth,

there was sanctity,

there was beginning.

And there was sound,

muffled sound, safe

and waiting, waiting for me.

Voices and melodies,

bathing the passage

from creation to being,

Mothers and Fathers,

the world over, cherish

the toe-tapping womb.

And so it would be

music would soothe,

music would smile,

music would grow,

with me, and I

with she and he.

The same wonder,

from toddler to teen,

lay before me,

on a thousand stages,

in a thousand towns.

And we are a family,

across a thousand divides,

betrothed in sound,

safe with each other,

a common love, a love

my children share.

And I wave them off

to the closeness of icons

and the surety of return,

upon a prayer,

to let the music play.

Copyright: Nicky Lloyd, May 2017