18 JUNE 1994, Page 38

God's Estate

Our tower block's a temple, Our flat a private shrine, The urine in the stair-wells The sacramental wine.

The pushers on the walkways Evangelists of crack Have promised once we're converts, There'll be no going back.

The burglars — theologians Exhort us seek true worth, To lay up treasure elsewhere, But not on sinful earth.

The muggers on the landings Remind the lax ingrates, Their ministry is threatened By lean collection plates.

Tim Hopkins