Mabel Street

by Mark Mahemoff

On Mabel Street it seems as if
no one's heart aches.
Lilly pillies are laden with fruit
and trees shade strollers from harshlight.
Peace is ominous. It doesn't feel right.
Everything fits if you're healthy and prosperous.
I'd like to live here for its beauty and space.

But I'd ruffle its feathers to remind it of the plight
that exists outside its borders
where there's poverty and mess.
I'd wrench open locked gates
and spray paint tasteful graffiti.
I'd let weeds and mint grow wild
and leave hedges unclipped.
I'd scatter food scraps on odd or even days
to attract ibisis, and Indian Mynahs.
And house prices would drop
so those less wealthy could move in
and pick all the lilly pillies
for chutney and jam,

This poem is a public submission created for Red Room Poetry's New Shoots digital poetry anthology.