Betjeman Rejection

The following poem, in continuation, was written as a comment for a CiF blog article.

Eliot's damning verdict on Orwell

TS Eliot rejected Orwell's Animal Farm for being 'unconvincing'. Which books would you send back to the author? The Guardian, Monday 30 March 2009 16.30 BST


Betjeman Rejection
Dear Johnny,
Betjemanly,
Thank you for your poetry.
We reviewed it, Sunday stewed it,
Load of cobblers, Cuppa tea?

Undulating, gently waiting,
Past the chip shop,
Down the way.
Early bath of purple Prozac,
Fills the pages , quite parfait.

Boring Sundays, maiden Aunties,
Another day, another shag.
Up from Chiswick, like the snow clouds
Shopping trolley, your dad's jag.

Samey verses, full of hearses
Little girls, on naughty boys,
He knows a bloke , in Camden cutting
With a penchant for these joys.

If you want to get this published
I suggest you call 'em up,
Twilight singing, sodding birdies!
Fills the air, with your mixed luck.

Time to get the wet warm pints in,
In that boozer by Edgware,
Off his trolley, Hello Dolly!
Derek, Clive and Byron's bear.

See you later , prevaricator,
At the bendy bit of road,
Where the words of puerile posies
Get run down by Highway code.

Martyn Richard Jones

 

Print | posted on Monday, March 30, 2009 12:00 AM