Sleeve
I saw a man in town
today and could not believe my ears.
The things that he
was saying – I did not want to hear!
The tattoos exposed
on his arm as he rolled up his sleeve:
The crudeness that
appeared in ink, I did not want to see.
He says he has no
money and lives on benefits.
So skint, to
support his offspring as he lights another cigarette.
And throughout his
life, some casual work, living on his wits!
How he goes through
life like that, although he does not care a bit.
He’s ‘starving’,
yet he’s paid for a cheeseburger and some chips,
A bottle of
something in carrier bag as he takes a few swigs.
Lives his life
ducking and diving, living off the dole,
Has no interest in
learning new skills and no career goal.
Left his wife and
children, so it’s us that pays the price!
His offspring
bought into the world, walked away more than twice.
The only way he
knows how to survive is the way he’s living now
Complaining about
the state of the country and puzzled as to how.
We support that
smoking drinking man with our hard earned cash.
There is not an answer
to this type of person, it’s all a mishmash
Condemn the human
being that does not try to work an honest day
Put our hand in our
pockets for these types that that makes us pay.
On one of your
tattoos along your arm – ‘love you mum’
Does she know what
individual you have become?
The rest of your
sleeve up your arm, courtesy of the state
And anything that
you might have earned, a favour for a mate.
No tax to pay, no
rent to find, it’s all been nicely covered
Wonder what
childhood you might have had, bought up by your mother
And here you are in
my hometown, thinking you are ‘owed’
Your train of
thinking of anything else, to me you’ve sunk so low.
I rush by, avoiding
your eye and do not wish to meet.
You’re not my ilk
or kind of person and wouldn’t like to greet.
You do not realise
how lucky you are with a room, food and heat
Sitting in a warm
winter coat on a suburban seat.
I do not wish to
repat the kind of words you’ve used commonly today.
A narcissist, that
thinks only of you and what you are trying to say.
I wish, in my heart,
to give you a chance to be civilised on this earth
But the way you
are, the only way, you only known since birth.
Look so rough, act
so tough, want to pull you aside -
enough is enough!
As you light
another cigarette inhale deeply on some puff.
No guilt, no shame
and it’s plain you’re the only one to blame,
A liar and cheat to
your very soul, you’ve always been the same!
We all know this
personality and want to make it right.
They think they are
above the law, no truth without a fight.
As the sleeve
revealed the names of his kids he’s never supported,
And the wife that
had enough, her marriage she aborted.
He’s capable of
working, but cannot seem to change his ways
I’ll carry on
avoiding, keep my thoughts to myself, avert his gaze
Came away from
school without grades - even now he’s not so bright.
But we’ll dig deep
down in our pockets, make sure he’s alright.
Copyright Linda
Lawrence
Mid-March 2025
