October 23, 2019Poem

Hackney before gentrification

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Hackney before gentrification

Kafka corridors

With flickering lights

Wire protected

To prevent breakage

It rarely worked

Fire doors, unhinged

Flats with security locks

An armour-plated

Letterbox.

Chainsaws have been used

In the past

To frighten the innocent

Still cowering

In the dark

Unless they have a guard dog

Labradoodles

Wear stab vests.

Between police raids

And drug deals

Children play

Knockdown ginger

Risking the danger

Of a beating.

It could be fun

A long way to run

From one wing

To another

A mile of green linoleum.

Who built these

Wormholes

What were they thinking

It is well seeing

They would never live here

Themselves

Why should we?