The Law of Asbestos

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