Young Professionals in Human Rights, bought together two sacred things at their Humanitea Rooms event in a pop-up cafe in Richmond: human rights and tea.
At the closing event on November 5th 2011 I curated and hosted, poetry that reflected human rights issues was added to the mix and a packed audience heard headliner Martin Powell and Julian Moorman perform.
This piece on divided communities was performed.
The Party Wall Surveyor’s Report
Planning permission
ignored
(despite something said in
a small Flemish hall
about tulips growing pale
in the shade).
For a large fence is
blocking
my client’s sun
and his children can’t
grow
and have lost their kite
over the other side
where the neighbours dog
eats kites.
My client states
that you built a wall
through his living room
splitting the sofa in two,
so his wife never saw
the end of the news.
My client knows
about your unlicensed
sprinkler
that is making grass hay
and turning dinner dessert.
His water feature is
clogged
and the koi carp were
algae-gagged
then fished by you.
His orchard has been
lopped,
trundled by heavy wheelbarrows
then levelled to marmalade,
that not even bees touch-
as they are not allowed in
without your permission.
My client asks
for free bee passage ways,
as his flowers are
bypassed
and are feeling small.
There’s a noise complaint
too,
beyond ASBO severity,
for the fireworks that
invade his dreams
and are burning him.
He still resents that you
watch
from your roof whilst his
roof
falls in.
We know you need gravel
for your garden path
to your pine pagoda,
but would appreciate
you not grinding up
the walls of his house.
My client’s drive is
blocked
by your errant kids
who check his identity
each time he tries to live.
My client fears
he has no mans land but
yours
and no ones word by his
but I speak for my client
and you should let him
live.
