money travels by car
through Birmingham
England’s bankrupt heart
the money
heads out of city
towards Villa Park, M6
Spaghetti Junction
from Ladywood
through Handsworth
out of city
via pot-holed dual carriageways
she knows
the money travels by car
in each one loose coins to hand
for parking
or maybe toll
there’s money in cars
they have to stop at lights
two lanes heading north
separated by a broken white line
she holds a polystyrene beaker
tight in her filthy right hand
so tight the thing is crumpled
to egg-cup size
fragile, teeth-grindingly squeaky
dirty, crumbling, polystyrene beaker
held so tight
she walked uncertainly
along the broken line
offering the cup
first to the right
then to left
on red she walks towards the traffic
on green she turns about
walks with the flow
the cars pass either side
on red she turns again
faces the stopping windscreens
she says nothing
does not knock on any window
as she passes paused vehicles
should I wind down my window? give what coins I have?
a two pounds, a fifty pence, twenties, some five penny pieces
loose change, I don’t count
somewhere in here
coins which might remind her
that she counts too
the lights change to green
she’s not looked at me
walks past
the setting sun in her eyes
her weathered face
bruised, scabbed
money travels by car
behind airtight windows
on green she turns
walks with the traffic
on amber she turns
on red
she starts again
through what circumstance
did she start this dance?
how much does she earn?
when will she stop?
tonight?
ever?
~
CLP 29/07/2024
Journey of Words 
6 responses
It’s a hard situation to understand. Your poetic portrait is spot on.
Thank you. It is desperate in Birmingham. The collapse of local government funds there has led to a vacuum where there might have been some support before.
Tragic.
The reality of what you see on the streets (and the roads) in Birmingham is horrific. Your poem does the desperation of these folks more than justice 🖤
Birmingham is a USA city in all its best and worst elements. The poverty is shocking. The scale of problems the city has is hard to comprehend. The city needs urgent help.
I fully agree 🖤