The Poverty Truth Commission brings together some of Scotland’s key decision makers with those living at the sharp end of poverty. We work together towards overcoming poverty in Scotland; ensuring that those affected by decisions are central to decision-making. The Commission believes poverty will only be truly addressed when those who experience it first-hand are at the heart of the process.
Some of us have just begun to meet together fortnightly to write and tell our stories in the way we want to tell them. This poem, inspired by Edwin Morgans 'A View of Things' is our first joint effort.
The Fine Line
what I love about water is the light bouncing off it
what I hate about shoes is their not living in the cupboardness
what I love about lying on the kitchen floor is it makes me feel childish
what I hate about winter is its coldness
what I love about the end of the day is going to bed
what I hate about welfare cuts is the thud
what I love about giving a witty reply is it makes people smile
what I hate about benefitscheats and hardworkingfamilies is the calculated division
what I love about summer is the freshness of bed sheets and towels
what I hate about realising a friend has got me to do something I didn’t want to is I notice it - first thing the next morning
what I love about books is being the swash-buckling hero
what I hate about traffic is the smell, and the noise
what I love about perfume is the fragrance
what I hate about supermarkets is the impatience
what I love about being well-off is having choices (the wee things)
what I hate about having choices is having to choose (the big things)
what I love about poverty is the laughter, resilience and life
what I hate about money is it’s always in the future
what I love about people is there’s so many cultures
what I hate about mornings is their eternal grumpiness
what I love about campaigning is its anger
what I hate about meetings is the disappointment when people don’t turn up
what I love about sharing stories is the solidarity
what I hate about money is its association with success
what I love about foodbanks is togetherness
what I hate about banks is their bureaucracy
what I love about rain is its patter
what I hate about unemployment is stigma
what I love about having no money is being creative
what I hate about driving is nobody wants to stop to give way – Bottleneck!
what I love about autumn is matching
what I hate about Ian Duncan Smith is everything
what I love about money is it gets you a trolley in the supermarket
what I hate about automated phone calls is they sound so unfriendly
what I love about school is it is routine
what I hate about school is the school meals or lack of it
what I love about poverty is its sharing
what I hate about richness is its power
what I love about sharing is its kindness
what I hate about poverty is lack of education
what I love about life is its celebration