"Payback Time"

A century after the Great war began
The donkeys they still bray
Raising a glass to their chancellor chum Osborne
They're rolling in the hay.
For he done the 'decent thing'
And finally paid back
Two hundred and eighteen million pound
The return of all that money
How crazy does that sound?
Of course "We're all in this together"
And times are really hard
Those City types have offices to keep
In fancy places like The Shard.
What about the descendants of the lions
Struggling on their council estate
No money left for them
They will just have to wait.
Cressingham Gardens by Brockwell Park
Soon to be under Lambeth's wrecking ball
Yet a working class community could be saved
If politicians cared at all.
It was ordinary folk from Herne Hill & Brixton
Who answered the call to die
The 'lucky' shell shocked ones who returned home
Fell for the 'Homes for Heroes' cry.
Today modern flats will be demolished
Local people sent north, south, east and west
Replaced by 'affordable' homes they can't afford
Our elected representatives know best.
Clearly too expensive to maintain
It might sound a tad unpleasnat
But surely it makes more sense
To give City boys their christmas present.
For they've had years of struggle
Making do with last years Savile Row suit
Having to cope with smaller bonuses
And public vilification to boot.
So what if a few common oiks turfed out
Might leave you feeling miffed
Hand on heart be honest
Can you begrudge these toffs their gift?

Dulwich Poet 3rd November 2014

(I picked up as discarded copy of The Sun, on Saturday. There was a minor story, on page 39, with the headline BRIT WW1 DEBT PAID 97 YRS ON. It was about the Government paying back Firsst World War Bonds, where they reported: "...they are mostly held by City institutions". There is a council estate in South London called Cressingham Gardens, which are pefectly habitable, but Lambeth Council want to demolish, because they haven't got enough money to refurbish them...)