Children in rags selling roses
Sponging the windscreens stalling in traffic
Sifting litter for saleable rubbish
Imported Impala sports cars speeding
To compounds of 5 star hotels in the hills
Fountains and flutes of champagne at the spa
Socialites soaking discussing
Sweet deals to tweak then to sign
In the chiaroscuro of the Polo Lounge
Moonlight cocktail firework party
Sushi supper round the Lotus Pool
In miniature ceramic bowls
Served by ‘Geisha Girls’
‘Our gated community promises
Security an armed patrol provides’
Ribeye beef flown in from Highland farms
Beluga caviar and Blue-point oysters
Beggar camps are bulldozed from the parks
Sculptures for the parks now beggar-free
Strangely disappear in the transition –
All are comprehensively insured
Severance pay of one day is sufficient
For those street-sweepers bussed in by the day
Garbage piles waist-high with significant savings
The New Year Charity Ball is white-tie only
Raffle prize a Lexus
Please give generously
Proceeds to refine the Church gold-leaf
Before its re-location to the desert
.
Bernard Saint
Illustration: Claire Palmer
.