You're Not Welcome Here

Cherry

By jolono

Wed, 30 Sep 2015
  • 4848 reads
18 comments
 

You wanted “Postcode” so you moved round here.

Brought in the builders and an engineer

Replaced its features with designer gear

Put in some marble and a chandelier

Cost you a fortune but you’re insincere

You’re playing the market like a puppeteer

Cos at the weekends you just disappear

It’s not your home town. You’re not welcome here.

 

You drink in “All Bar One” with no atmosphere

You pay by debit card for your glass of beer.

You spot a local girl, act all cavalier

Order some champers like a millionaire

But she just blanks you so you give a sneer

To her you’re just a sightseer

Cos at the weekends you just disappear

It’s not your home town. You’re not welcome here.

 

Let me speak plain so we’re nice and clear.

I’ll say it loud so you can’t mishear

You may live next door but you ain’t my peer

And when you leave we won’t shed a tear

We’ll jump for joy and give a cheer

Cos we hate the smell of JP Gaultier

So pack your bags and just disappear

It’s not your home town. You’re not welcome here.

 

Certificate 15
Poem
Poems of Life and Love
Rant

Comments

Submitted by scratch on

Excellent jolono.  I know that there are any number of ways to interpret this but it put me in mind of the outrage of many locals caused by the so-called gentrification of parts of London.  

 

Submitted by jolono on

Spot on Scratch! I was thinking about my part of the world where people who work in Docklands buy a House/Flat locally but only live there Mon-Friday. They have no intention of becoming part of the local community and will blatantly tell you they only intend to live there for a year or so then sell it on to make a profit. All this while locals cant get a house or flat in the area.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I think it's a problem of rural holiday areas too, though some houses probably wouldnt sell otherwise but to visitors. But it also does speak of trying to make friends with those there before you wherever you live, and certainly not thinking yourself superior, and valuing friendliness more highly than money. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by jolono on

Well said Rhiannonw. Thanks for the read.

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

A sad commentary on modern life - and it's happening in more and more places now, not just London. Property as an investment - not a home. And people in need of subsidised housing being moved to other places too. My city. So sad.

 

Submitted by VeraClark on

This is happening everywhere. But it could be interpreted as class and cultural divisions too and the sense of entitlement really belonging brings with it. Always enjoy the rap style poems you write as they have accessibility and a strong point to make with that delicious sense of fingers up.

 

Submitted by Bee on

Well said, and somehow the uniform rhyme and repeated line adds something to the point. I'd like to hear this read outloud.

Bee

Submitted by jolono on

Thank you insert. Yep its my city as well and, like you, I hate it seeing it devalued. Hope you liked it.

 

Submitted by jolono on

Vera. Yes it is a rap. I'm an old geezer now but I still love it. There is something about rap that is so honest and down to earth. Poetry at its most sincere. Theres an awful lot of crap out there. But good rap is great poetry. Not that I'm saying mine is.....

 

Submitted by jolono on

Thanks Bee. I've been away for a few weeks but getting  up to date now. Need to read one or two of yours. xx

 

Submitted by EB on

And that's how to write a rant. Good one!

Submitted by jolono on

Thank you EB. Appreciated.

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

I haven't committed to one place, happy for people to drift in and out, but it is becoming impossible for some to live where they consider home.  Very unfair.  The thing that gets me more is the block buying of city residences by investors who are not even looking at getting tenants.  A story of basic rights being removed from those who are not floating at the top and the resentment that builds beneath.

Submitted by jolono on

Well said Philip. I was listening to a couple of locals on the Isle Of Dogs the other day. They were complaining about a neighbour who had recently moved into the street. He works in Canary Wharf and only lives in the area from Monday to Friday. He doesn't use any of the local shops or pubs and openly admitted to them that he would only be there for a couple of years then sell to make a profit.

 

Submitted by celticman on

you get all kinds of migrants exacerbated by the housing crisis when it makes economic sense to build a house in an area the size of a bucket, but sometimes you need to slop out. 

 

Submitted by jolono on

Thanks CM.

 

Submitted by Shannan on

Hope you delivered it ;-) 

Have a great week, despite the person's smelly return $

 

Submitted by jolono on

Thanks Shannon. Hope you are well and life is treating you good.