It is that time of the year again when politicians will talk of the scourge of homelessness but do little to solve the problem. This is something I wrote a couple of years ago when I was in a writing group: I seem to remember I recited it as a semi-rap. A couple of centuries ago William Blake talked of how the church and state needed the poor so we could feel good dishing out ‘charity.’ An audio file of me reading this is on my FB page.
NOTE: If you see someone sleeping rough and you are concerned phone -0300 500 0914 – in the UK. They should send someone to speak to the person and arrange emergency accommodation.
Regeneration
Please keep our streets clean
5000 people sleep on ’em;
Lets rally round, lets turn the tide
and restore national pride!
It’s the end of austerity –
so our PM said with due temerity.
So – Please keep our streets clean
5000 people sleep on ’em; lets not be mean.
There’s no room to swing a cat
in a cardboard box but perhaps a rat.
Private development equals – cardboard
encampments along embankments.
Public space isn’t aesthetic– its tragicomic
not economic – there – that’s rhyme,
rhythm, deception, division.
Please keep our streets clean
5000 people sleep on ’em.
The recession and no-choice austerity’s
like an infection – not good for your complexion;
a national disgrace – is it too late to save face?
Home is where the heart is -what happened to common land?
House of Commons – fit for purpose? Social Housing for the commoner?
You say they’re scum: I say we need a civilised outcome –
a cool solution to this obscene disconnection,
protection-no-protection and disaffection.
There’s incomprehension- disconsolate empty buildings,
standing there while fattening speculators
go on long self-promotion A-list vacations.
Please keep our streets clean
5000 people sleep on ’em.
At number 10 talk of legislation to
dispossess squatters’ rights (desperation)
sick people dying in the shadows
there ain’t no regeneration once your dead.
Save upmarket properties from desecration
while bloated billionaires aren’t there
to see the aggression of the recession
casting shadows in Parliament Square.
We can’t afford to be doctrinaire
but each of us can say a heartfelt prayer.
There are corpses on the street but please don’t stare.
That homeless upstart has a heart – he’d like
a part in this re-gen-er-a-tion just to
live a good life free of temptation,
frustration and consternation –
four walls and roof over his head.
Please keep our streets clean
5000 people sleep on ’em.
There’s no re-gen-er-a-tion once you’re dead –
only speculation, desecration and recapitulation.
Let’s restore national pride:
for too long duplicity and iniquity
have despoiled our green and pleasant land.
Please keep our streets clean.
All Things Creative 