New Rooms

New Rooms

Oxford is full of new rooms

and students,

and tourists,

and push bikes.

Its dreaming spires

are photographed

and painted,

captured in time.

They are visited

and venerated.

They offer hope

to those who aspire

and charm those

who would simply adore

the pleasure of architecture.

But if you are poor,

if you are homeless

or if you are schizophrenic

Oxford has no room.

 

01/09/12

Reviews

[Mark]

Nicely done. I don't know a lot about Oxford but I feel as though I know more now.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Hi Mark I drive there and back every day and work for a Charity providing housing and support for people with severe mental illness. To be honest the sentiment in this piece could be applied to any town or city in the UK. Glad you liked it.

[Mark]

Not just the UK... USA as well. Since Reagan closed those facilities back in the 80's many of the mentally ill are homeless or in jail.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I have been in the a states twice studying your mental Heath system and persuaded our Government. To adopt one of your models when the great and the good were telling me that the Yanks had nothing to teach us!

[Lyn Anderson]

Is the (it's) poetic license as well - because it very well could be in this piece. It is thoughtful, bold, and stark - a well written poem.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

No just sloppy writing! Thanks KLG

[Leslie Philibert]

A good point, there are normal people who live next to these ivory towers, like this...

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I was using poetic licence. Thanks Leslie. Just wanted to emphasise that I do vary style and subject.

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Indeed, it is an institution for the rich, yet surprising they produce mostly comedians, a turn there I think!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Yes an one of the local MPs is the biggest comedy act of them all. David Cameron! Thanks Thomas.

[Tom]

Indeed indeed John, the toffs at Oxford may disapprove in the merit of your discerning words, then again, arrogance is difficult to conceal !

Emotively and ethically challenging !

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Tom and Happy 2014.

[Tom]

And you too !

[Bewitching Sensations]

So true but so sad :( Maybe we should start a charity, though i am sure there must be one somewhere.. helping those that are poor etc to have the same rights as the others

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Ha, ha, I work for one!

[Bewitching Sensations]

that has them values?

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Yes we provide housing and support for the mentally ill.

[Bewitching Sensations]

thats great admirable job.. well done

[Rhianne Ney]

wow, you just shared to me something about Oxford thank you much

[John Alexander McFadyen]

You are welcome Rhainne

[SHEEMA HUQ]

pressing provocations about one of the most famous educational instutions on the planet, indeed your sentiments are sadly relatable to anywhere in the world

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thanks Sheema. Sadly you are right.

[Lisa Ring]

Beautifully written, I really appreciate this particular style...just a few words on every line makes each word important to mull and savor. Isn't this a sad truth about everything awe-inspiring that is man-made? Only the privileged have access and they gain their privilege using others as their foot paths

[John Alexander McFadyen]

It is a sad truth Lisa but we keep it like that by being watchers from the sidelines. If we fought for the socially excluded and stopped governments cutting the budget for services to them things might change. Thank you as always for your lovely review.

[MOON]

Oxford has no soul and so do many of us as well. Poignant write .

[John Alexander McFadyen]

True. many thanks.