Halfway house

 
No one walks these streets,
where hooded exchanges meet,
half brick playing fields,
used to crack riot shields.

Concrete cages hold the fragile elite,
an eye for an eye confirms our belief,
restraining orders that get ignored,
liberate the dreams I can't afford.

Stain ringed mattress, bare wood floor
her eyes roll back, faking for more.
Turn up the tune to silence their groans,
drum and bass track is my place to roam.

Stomach cramps and begs for food,
cupboards run with cockroach and booze.
Social hand-outs go socialising,
police patrols become patronising.

So I steal a car and ram raid a shop,
Sergeant said leave the keys on top.
Tried ringing home just to use up my call,
tattooed arm rips the phone off the wall.

These residents only fight when provoked,
pool cue splinters the head of some bloke.
So what the hell are you looking at ?
go on walk away and don’t come back.