Today I went to London Town
A city famed for its wealth and crown
But the reality will make you frown

There are no paths of gold here to be found
But a sea of homelessness to drown
Occasionally a passer-by bends down
Chucking a coin in to a hat or cup
As though they’d pick something dodgy up

If they placed it in their hand
But most walk by in a dreamland
Pretending they don’t even exist
Crossing the street on a pivotal twist
A quick pirouette, ensures an inconvenient truth is missed

Today I went to a matinee
A luxury, a theatre play
I traveled the train without a worry to pay
Simply swiped my card the contactless way

Indulged in a big meal out
For fifty quid it was a reasonable shout
While across the road is this girl hanging about
And her dogs called Buster, I found out

I gave her some change and the time of day
Asked if I could stroke her dog, she said I may
On the girls lap Buster lay
Eyes wide, grateful for love I sent his way

She needed twenty two pounds
For a full week stay at the shelters grounds
But the funds she said she never found

“When I come back I’ll bring you a drink”
She asked for hot chocolate
I gladly agreed
I called the Salvation Army where she said she’d be received
Providing she had the money to leave

My call was in a queue but nobody picked up
I wanted to pay so she and Buster could snuggle up
Somewhere warm, even for just a week
So her ankle could heel and they’d get some sleep

I walked to the corner where I promised that hot drink
I looked around, took a double blink
Buster and his owner where gone, before I had time to think

Now I’m home in bed, heating on
Hoping they are somewhere warm
Praying that they gained some profit
I never delivered the promised hot chocolate