"Shelter"

I bet you wouldn't touch it
With that proverbial barge pole
A Christian hostel called 'Shelter'
What an awful hole.
True, there's no big parties
But nothing could be further from the truth
In fact you won't find friendlier
Than the staff under their roof. 
And despite the fact they're religious
They certainly don't preach
Though if believing in 'god' is your thing
He's certainly within reach.
The showers and rooms were the cleanest
And the place was secure
A spot that was affordable
With 24-hour staff on the door.
A small snack for breakfast
With free internet to peruse
And for those with modern gadgets
You've got their wi-fi to use. 
Les than ten minutes from the station
Handy for the sights
And because they don't allow alcohol
It was relatively peaceful at nights.
When I go back to The 'Dam next year
It's to this hostel I will return
It's ticks all the boxes for me
When you haven't got money to burn.

Dulwich Poet 30th October 2015


(On my recent trip to Amsterdam I stayed in a 'backpackers hostel; in was actually a drug & alcohol free one, that is a Christian run one, called 'Shelter'. I didn't stay there for that, but more for easy location to the main train station. But this is about that hostel..)