Home Is

They put me in a taxi
I wasn’t sad to leave
New Hall upon hall
Of pressure etched concrete faces
Eyes open on uncomfortably sprung beds
Sleeplessness encased in dubious sheets
Each and every wall ceaselessly penetrated
By midnight cries and threats of violence
“Get to sleep or you’ll get a crack ‘round the head!”
I needed a rest
The driver unloaded my life
A suitcase and a couple of carriers
Dumped on the pavement
Behind chained gates
Desperate for a rubber stamping
Interviewed, approved
And shown around by an old hand
Who unashamedly relayed his past
“Me Mam were on smack
Us kids were put in care
Oh, and that’s the phone over there.”
He pointed to where a girl sat on the floor
Matted hair and straight back
Her place against the wall
Laid constant claim to the cold receiver
Clammy hand cradling old plastic
From which declarations of absent love poured
A tower of ten p’s by her side
Each token buying a temporary
Release from loneliness
Stemming tears, saving cheeks
My new room was filthy with memory
Free to clean: I scrubbed
Every inch stripped of dirt and feeling
Inspected weekly, nowt ever found on me
Privacy and dignity swapped for bed and board
Snipping out all luxuries we could scant afford
Bit of cash every Tuesday, skint by Friday
A cottage industry invented
For lads who couldn’t live without ciggies
Smoke clouds shadowing exchanges of grief
Hardened ears listening, hearing
Whilst well-practiced fingers empty dimps
Into rinsed-out pie tins
Abandoned baccy
Found at bus stops, surrounding bins
Newly skinned, given a second chance
They put me in a taxi
A sweaty key imprinting into my palm
Empty walls, bare floors
And a new-found freedom to lock the doors
Behind me

those halls of residence Gemma!

as usual superb imagary well illustrated
again you painted a coherant picture in my mind

the tower of 10ps--- like that line especially

I've made some (more) changes- I'm such a meddler!


Home Is

They put me in a taxi
I wasn’t sad to leave
New Hall upon hall
Of pressure etched concrete faces
Eyes open on uncomfortably sprung beds
Sleeplessness encased in dubious sheets
Each and every wall ceaselessly penetrated
By midnight cries and threats of violence
“Get to sleep or you’ll get a crack ‘round the head!”
I needed a rest
The driver unloaded my life
A suitcase and a couple of carriers
Dumped on the pavement
Behind chained gates
Desperate for a rubber stamping
Interviewed, approved
And shown around by an old hand
Who unashamedly relayed his past
“Me Mam were on smack
Us kids were put in care
Oh, and that’s the phone over there.”
He pointed to where a girl sat on the floor
Matted hair and straight back
Her place against the wall
Laid constant claim to the cold receiver
Clammy hand cradling old plastic
From which declarations of absent love poured
A tower of ten p’s by her side
Each token buying a temporary
Release from loneliness
Stemming tears, saving cheeks
My new room was filthy with memory
Free to clean: I scrubbed
Every inch stripped of dirt and feeling
Inspected weekly, nowt ever found on me
Privacy and dignity swapped for bed and board
Those little luxuries we could scant afford
Bit of cash every Tuesday, skint by Friday
A cottage industry invented
For lads who couldn’t live without cigs
Smoke screen exchanges of grief
Hardened ears listening, hearing
Whilst well-practiced fingers emptied dimps
Into rinsed-out pie tins
Abandoned baccy
Found at bus stops, surrounding bins
Newly skinned, given a second chance
They put me in a taxi
A sweaty key imprinting into my palm
Empty walls, bare floors
And a new-found freedom to lock the doors
Behind me

Hi Gemma

I think a good quality well written book or poem paints a many pictures and emotions.

Your poem scores big time on every counts. Its a poem that can be read and read, remaining fresh.

regards

Phil

Thanks Phil and Pete. :)

It's a bit nerve-wracking putting your work up here isn't it?

Hi, its a great poem and yes it can nerve wracking putting your work up on here but everyones always kind enough with the reviews!

Cayn- thats true, everyone is always nice :)

Sophie- its brand new so never performed it yet, but I did write it to be heard, so i may do it soon. Me and Chris are going to come to both Bolton and Middleton this month, so one of them two maybe?

I meant more nice but constructive, which is helpful. If anything wasn't working in my poems I'd definately want to know!