Along the A690

Along the A690

traffic is moving

in both directions.

It’s near Sunderland

where opinions

have been one way

for quite some time.

 

The gritters have been out all night,

like Joe and Jazmin -

although they were clubbin’

- since there was some work

and the hours weren’t zero

for a change.

 

Joe voted, Jazz didn’t.

He voted out,

knew he’d be worse off.

“So what”, he says in the pub,

“some rich people

vote Labour.”

He means middle class,

your own house

means rich to Joe.

 

Snow falls on Wearside,

but it’s not Manchester

or London, so the TV

doesn’t care except

for five minutes

on the local traffic news.

 

Jazz likes “Love Island”

but isn’t so keen

on “Geordie Shore”,

a bit too close to home.

She’d be up for the

Mackem version,

if they took the piss

just a bit less.

 

Joe’s mam

looks after the bairn

and they keep her in fags.

Jayden was at nursery

in Hylton Red House

but it costs too much now,

hooky cigarettes are cheaper.

 

Along the A690

traffic is moving

in both directions.