The following poem was written as part of a poetry-writing event at Spurgeons Academy, to mark World Poetry Day
Once up a time, son
They used to laugh with their hearts
And laugh with their eyes
But now they only laugh with their teeth.
While their ice black cold eyes
Search behind my shadow
There was a time indeed
They used to shake hand with hearts
But that’s gone, son.
Now they shake hands without hearts
While their left hand search
My empty pockets.
‘Feel at home’, ‘Come again’
They say, and when I come again and feel
At home, once, twice
There will be on the thrice,
For then I find doors shut on me
So, I have learned many things, son
I have learned to wear many foreign-like dresses
Homefare, officefare, streetfare, hostfare, cock-tailfare,
With all their conforming smiles
Like a fixed portrait smile
And I have learned too
To laugh with only my teeth
And shake hands without my heart
I have also learned to say ‘Goodbye’.