Poet is not averse to complaints in rhyme

Published: 28th January, 2011
by PETER GRUNER

THE bard of the Angel’s Popham estate, Patricia Nolan, doesn’t write letters of complaint about her problems – she puts her “feelings of despair” into verse.

The result is her poem, written about the quality of repairs on her estate being carried out by contractors working for the borough’s housing agency, Homes for Islington (HfI).

Mrs Nolan, 52, who is deputy chairwoman of the residents’ association, has also quietly composed poems about bullying in school, dementia, and even one in praise of her local doctor when he retired.

One of her most touching poems, Oh-To Remember, describes her own parents’ descent into forgetfulness and Alzheimer’s disease.

Now residents, who have only just discovered Mrs Nolan’s secret talents, are urging the former retail manager to publish her verses in a book.

The poem printed here, “Poor Popham”, has become a firm favourite with its concerns about “unattractive” works. 

For readers unacquainted with the term “trunking”, it is where wires and cables, rather than being hidden within walls in the traditional way, are installed across surfaces of walls and ceilings.  

The issue, which Mrs Nolan describes as an “eyesore”, has been the subject of many complaints in this newspaper.

Married with a son, Mrs Nolan now cares for her parents, both 85, who both suffer from dementia and live in Canonbury.

“I started writing when I started looking after mum and dad because I found it therapeutic. 

“A few people have asked me to publish my verse but I’ve never thought about it before. It’s just a nice hobby and if people like what I write all the better.”

Poor Popham

by Patricia Nolan

I thought I’d write a poem about what we’re having done
There’s so much work that's going on right here on Popham 1
The electrics and rewiring ­– the gas boilers – radiators, too
We don’t know who is coming in and really who is who

The trunking is an eyesore ­– it’s like going back in time
But when it’s said to HfI – they say nothing’s wrong; it’s fine
There’s wires, pipes and aerials – erected everywhere
It looks so unattractive – for our estate it’s just not fair

So many of our residents – took pride in what they had
But now they’re feeling cheated – instead of feeling glad
The works are never ending – There’s a feeling of despair
With dust and rubbish mounting – TELL ME!
Do HfI really CARE?