The Law of Asbestos
Ashenspire
Capital’s pre-eminence made matter
Nailed to the high-rise, under the budgetary hammer
Do they sleep well, wrapped in irony?
Better that than tangled in austerity
Better ours than their children in poverty
Tide over the tampered-with, until it’s their turn
A corner cut, a penny saved
Grenfell burns again and again and again
There’s worse than the pox for all these houses
The scaffolding holding the bread from their mouths
As it rouses the worker to sell themselves short
Both foundation and corner-stone
And entirely bereft of support
If I drink Tollen’s reagent, will I finally shine inside?
And will I see myself as God sees me
If I pour it in my eyes?
Pour it in my eyes
All’s silent but for the rain
Weary lungs, asthmatic brain
And tell me, is this now the humour of it?
Some architect’s great satire in prefabricated shit
The rot and the damp creeping in, every corner
A reflection of the presupposed sin
Of every presupposed hoarder
Scrounger! Thief! Gangrenous scab!
If the game’s afoot I’ll gladly lose the leg
This is not a house of amateurs
This is done with full intent
Always three months to the gutter
Never three months to the peak
Another day to grind your fingers
For the simple right to eat
Always three months to the gutter
Never three months to the crown
Another deep breath of asbestos
In a godforsaken town
Always three months to the gutter
Never three months to the top
Another set of fucking homeless
Spikes outside another empty shop
Always three months to the gutter
Never three months to ascent
This is not a house of amateurs
This is done with full intent