The futility of the British

EBT photo

By

David R Mellor

There is an unbearable sense of futility in British society, like the ever changing weather. It’s either too hot or too cold for us, being most content when its lukewarm (18 degrees) with a few fluffy clouds. Or to queue orderly (most important) for absolutely anything, many times joining one out of habit.

However, these quaint English pastimes appear stretched to the limit. It’s now almost a daily occurrence that you hear from people who can’t get a GP appointment or (as it was once in my case) wait 6 hours for a hospital bed.

Almost every prescription one gets now is for pain killers, the refrain from health professionals being “there’s nothing we can do” which really means “there are no resources to properly treat you.” Increasingly one finds out the illness you had only in the autopsy.

And as you venture into the high street, painkillers in tow, you are greeted by rows of empty shops, peppered by bookies, charity shops and tanning studios, this being our lot.

For a growing number of others, however, cared for by the elites in power, money and privilege is handed down to them and most importantly private health. Ensuring they don’t have an early death.

Street Scene

That’s a tanning studio

That’s a chippy

That’s a tanning studio

That’s a hairdresser’s

Empty shop

Empty shop

Empty shop

That’s a smoke free Wetherspoons

That’s a closed pub

That’s a closed pub

That’s a closed pub

That’s a couple strapped

for cash

That’s a family next door

whose giro

couldn’t last

That’s a fake tan

That’s a discarded chip paper

That’s another fake tan

That’s just a street

come to the end

David R Mellor

Born 1964, (Liverpool, England) difficult birth, didn’t find my voice until my youth. Years of thinking I was nobody and treated as such. However, hit the paper papering over the scars. Found understanding and belief through words. I have been published and performed widely from the BBC, The Tate, galleries and pubs and everything in between.

My poems are autobiographical, others topical and several my take on life. Hope you enjoy reading as much as I have enjoyed writing. Please feel free to share your thoughts on links below.

Contact: David R Mellor  [email protected]

Facebook – The Poetry of David R. Mellor

Twitter –  “olunikat” The Poetry of David R. Mellor

YouTube –  MellorDR