Poem for Apthorp
We received this poem some weeks ago. Many residents in Barnet were troubled by the Apthorp Care Centre closure. Following the news of the 5 deaths they are demanding a public enquiry. One resident wrote and sent us this poem:
WE ARE BARNET
On our doorsteps we clapped for the heroes
as the virus was killing us off
we hailed common folk’s resistance to blows
though the country was led by a toff;
now in Barnet his lackeys are sacking
the workers we stood to applaud
as there’s always some lift in attacking
the low-paid we can barely afford;
872 pence an hour
such fortunes the shirkers were paid
too much for lovers of power
whose memories are rapid to fade;
they say they shall have to close Apthorp
and dozens of jobs will be lost
such chutzpah would make a dead horse gawp
but for them there is only one cost;
their creed is that people serve money
ours is the other way round;
should we wait for the sweet Easter bunny
till some kindness on earth can be found?
Hold hands, stand together, stay solid
“We’re free people, not wage slaves,” say loud,
while they are obtuse, mean and stolid
we’ll fight till we win, strong, unbowed.
Alan Dent NEU member
