Perfects the Art of Looking Public While Feeling Like a Private Memo
Sunningdale Park Perfects the Art of Looking Public While Feeling Like a Private Memo
Green space so tidy it seems to be monitored by invisible clipboards.
The Manicured Surrey Experience
- The grass is trimmed to the exact height of quiet judgement.
- Joggers here run like they are late for a board meeting.
- The squirrels look well-fed and emotionally stable, which is suspicious.
- Every bench feels like it has a dress code.
- The paths curve gently, like they are avoiding conflict.
Social Protocols in Green Space
- People say “how lovely” with the seriousness of a financial decision.
- Dog owners apologize to each other preemptively, just in case.
- The ducks waddle like they have honorary titles.
- A picnic here feels like you are auditioning for a brochure.
- The air is so calm you can hear your phone buzzing with stress.
Affluent Suburban Parkland
- Even the mud is discreet.
- The trees look like they were arranged by a committee.
- The park is peaceful until someone mentions parking permits.
- Children play quietly, which suggests a nearby rule book.
- Sunningdale Park: where nature behaves and so do you.
I am a Lagos-born poet and satirical journalist navigating West London’s contradictions. I survived lions at six, taught English by Irish nuns, now wielding words as weapons against absurdity. Illegal in London but undeniable. I write often for https://bohiney.com/author/junglepussy/.
As a young child, I was mostly influenced by the television show Moesha, starring singer and actress Brandy. Growing up, I would see Brandy on Moesha and see her keeping in her cornrows and her braids, but still flourish in her art and music, looking fly. I loved Moesha as a child, but now I take away something more special from it. Just because you’re a black girl, it doesn’t mean you need to only care about hair and makeup. Brandy cared about books, culture and where she was going — you can do both.
