Unreal City

(Picture Credit - Chichester Rd, Cleethorpes from Geograph org uk)

Running the gauntlet down Midchester Road,

A veritable suburb of Gleethorpes City,

You pass a line of house-castles

Of the well to do.

But don’t be fooled

By what you see,

For I know someone

Who lives there.

And he will tell you,

Of bountiful gardens

Stripped bare

And concreted over

So that families can park their fleets

Of expensive cars.

See those conservatory extensions

And widened pavements.

A lady poses,

Doing her best

To emulate the Kardashians.

Money attracts

No end of thugs

And dodgy dealers:

Swarming parasitic wasps

Around the honey pot.

Nights of drunken revellers

From the local pub:

Swaying from trees

And kicking cans about.

Boy racers tearing down the road,

Music systems booming

With a mindless

Moronic drumming.

“Where has reality gone?” asks

My despairing friend.

They have their money

Their riches,

Expensive toys

But few of them are Happy.

What happened to “Goodness” and virtue

And dreams of Utopia?

Where are the heroes

Inventors and creators?

Instead we have a world of celebrity,

In which true talent – even genius

Is ignored and undervalued.

“Where are we going?” my friend exclaims.

Things get worse and worse,

The world all in reverse.

For it’s “Unreal City”,

Far from pretty.

So have a think,

Don’t let yourself sink

Even further into the mire.

Just get real,

You know the deal,

It’s you I’m trying to inspire.

Paul Butters

© PB 2\8\2019

(With help from a bloke who lives in such a place).