Pride and the Parks Department

We brushed up the broken glass
Gingerly picked up the condom some youth left at the bottom of the slide
Tried to get the swing gate back on its hinges
And wondered…

…do we just give up?

We stepped round the spit and sick
Shook our heads at the fresh gum on the tarmac beside the benches
Picked up the crisp packets and the beer cans
And wondered…

…maybe we did give up?

Glass smashed in the phone box
The swing twisted, broken – no use to local kids
That skateboard park the youngsters petitioned for…

…burnt

We come back.
We mend, we clean, we tidy…
So good kids can play, mums can chat and nice folk sit in peace
Or play bowls

…we didn’t give up.

....