City Of Faces Poem by D Loveday Morris

City of Faces
Everywhere has faces and so do you
The point is not to eliminate the other point of view
We are never just one thing; neither is this place
Our beauty is a collection of our various sides and shades- just like this place
That's why it's so important, that you write your story
Have a say in how you are represented in history
The Bible says, the one without sin, cast the first stone
So let the city without faces criticize your own

There are parts of this charming city, that persons will say to you
Don't venture there, and over there you will not like that view
That's not a place you would like to live; that school is OFSTED rated, Needs Improvement
Your child, will not capitalize on succrss and achievement
That's not somewhere where you would want your child to graduate
Look, do you see those large council estates?
The untrained eye may not at first tell the differences, I soon came to appreciate
There are parts of this beautiful city, many don't 'rate'

Let the city without faces cast the first stone
Let the city without faces criticize your own
Some say it's not to sway
Around there, that's where the gangs play
That community my friend, is that way because of years of social tension
There is conflict between people of different phenotypic expressions
On your adventure to the mall
Take another turn, that historic building, is behind a prison wall
That gorgeous house at that price,
It's that way, because that area is not nice

Let the city without faces cast the first stone
Let the city without faces criticize your own
There are small cars and small houses
There are bigger cars and bigger house
And the price and size, you'll come to realize will depend
On whether the area is 'rated' or not; how much you earn or have to spend
There are places that someone like me,
At this time, wouldn't be able to afford to be
Neither can I afford private school tuition and fees

Yet some say, what you see in the city depends on what you hope to find
While others say it's definitely a state of mind
A city with one face, is under the influence of wine
It will sober up in time
Living in this city, like it's paradise, is for the unwise
We will guarantee you'll be in for a surprise
But I say, paradise is a reality as well as a state of mind
And a city with only one face is very hard to find
But to use the ugly to deny it's beauty
Wouldn't be fair to this charming city
So let the city without faces cast the first stone
Let the city without faces criticize your own

D. Loveday Morris

An Extract from the Diary of a Jamaican Critical Care Nurse Living and Working in the UK