Vantage point

Poem by Jennie Osborne & Steve Day

    If I need a better life, I build one,
          dig its foundations below the soles
      of my feet, plough the potholes
with the heels of my shoes and, into the arms of a good
      neighbour, entrust my rubble, to fire bricks.
  Take a view of myself, leave enough so they too
      can build their own new living.
And I must stake my claim to a place of my own,
              not leave it to chance.

If what I build is better, others too will want to
            lay their own foundations.
      When they come, as they surely will,
      do I defend or lend my own sole and heel? 
      Do I hurl rocks or break them into brick?
          Do I shrink or do I grow?
Do I speak of salvation or spare them my mouthings?
No, I lend hand, foot and stiff-back-muscle,                             
            I fire more bricks,
I grow into my own good neighbour and share my fire.
Encourage them to stake their claim,
            leave salvation to the wind and rain.
      The uncomfortable journey is
what sets me free, at least, that’s how this poem reads.

Too simple? Ruined utopias, abandoned shangri-las
          are commonplace, a better world
          however small, is rare as poetry.

          If I need a better poem
                then I take pen in hand,
                      write what I need to write.
      Maybe, just maybe, I will have baked one brick.
            Making my poem better will not save lives
                not even my own, it can only be a keystone.

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