TOTALLY CARACAS

18-09-2006

Heard the one about the Venezualan president giving his country's oil toKen Livingstone in exchange forLondon's"expertise"? The Stirrer's resident poet Brendan Hawthorn welcomes the residents of Caracas to a world of choking congestion, ridiculous house prices and undrinkable water.

Totally Caracas

Snarl ups on the

high seize

are predicted

in response to

selling London's

expertise

to the poor of Venezuela

Expensive housing

and water shortages

along with

the blueprint

for congestion

charges

for the poor of Venezuela

The trade of cotton

sugar and cocoa

coffee and tobacco

drawn from

the mouth

of the Orinocco

once fed the poor of Venezuela

And now its

cheap DERV

for the

Iconic bus

to ferry its elite

and help serve

those who are poor in Venezuela

And this fair trade

will take us

to new levels

of environmental

distress

How totally Caracas!

I wish you well, the poor of Venezuela

©2006 Brendan Hawthorne

Check out more from Brendan at www.wednesburypoets.co.ukand read

more contributions at The Stirrer's Poets Corner.