Friendship, Foes, Neighbourhood Poem by Mal Shah

My neighbourhood neighbour
Lives a stones throw across the Hasidic yonder
N16 I know the Stamford Hill terrains
Familiar and safe a little rural ends
Safety and security entered this Swedish mafia African werewolf he jest
As we bench, squat and bench
Nearby at the local gym
Partner in crime I often think we are the black Bonnie and Clyde
Get away driver
The aunty with Nissan the juke
Not the Almera
Skrrss skrrss all the Germans
Underestimated me, the speed and original Vorsprung durch Technik leave these boys on the beaches of Normandy
Now back to the story, we met on Hinge but we say one day we tell them it was Muzmatch or maybe locally.
Most days and nights you catch me stare
Whilst you avert your eye contact I know you weirdo as much as you withold.
Acts of service guy, pick me up and 100kg up without busting a sweat
My Afar papi, a real badman in the kitchen and talented, quietly spoken but this Garfield often wants a fight, as most people don't get the East African man's plight.
They stop you if you drive fast or fancy
Another immigrant officer asks what's your nationality?
How did you get here.. you get mad and sullen and retort
A big private jet. He inquired from wear.
You smile, and clock his supervisor getting red and angry.
Making a fool of the rookie who is just proving himself to the white master and commander.
Our tall, nomadic, rebellious, lean people. We known for fighting, foreheads and bunda
When we met it was easy and delightful, I assessed you 5"11 stocky man and thought nah this is the sequel.
Alas I was mistaken now look whose sorry
Your favourite aunty/Mami/ friend foe ans neighbour. As similar our culture, faith and practises we were raised in parts of Europe and paths twisted and ventured
So many laughs, stories and exploring adventurers
Where we be going next? My sharp toothed neighbour.