All about us stood the accused
Not one of them felt abused
If I’d have known what was coming
I’d have run like f***
(Miroslav Hibek, 1993)
Atomic byway
Blue, red, red, green
Yellow, magenta, crimson
Black, purple, green and cherise
Orange, white, indigo, violet
Brown and cream
Do you dream in colour?
(Betty Schrivener, 1953)
It’s not a sonnet
Shakespeare, what did he ever do?
I mean really, what was it all about?
He used others’ stories,
Oh yes, he had a way with words,
I’ll grant you he was clever,
But really, surely, there’s more to life than
Plays, sonnets and poems.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not bitter,
But I just don’t see the point of words
You see I’m not exactly literate or able to form a sentence
But I know one thing
I can tell who will win the 3.30 at Kempton,
He never did!
(Marshall Tiverton, 1966)
Embrace all your hopes
His face dark and hardened said it all
So no words were spoken in the hall
Blood and sinew splattered the wall
“Oh my!” he said “I’ve had a ball”.
(Jack McCrum, Exeter Prison, 1959)
Endlessly
In the wake of the ship
It’s hard to feel any sense of time
Yet all is slipping by
Cast upon the waves of brine
(Thomas Stern, 1972)
Labyrinth
Oh thy foul accursed wretch
Thy presence offends all senses here
Wherefore dost thou ply thy trade
Unwelcome amidst all atop this plinth
Crawl back into thy dark, dank labyrinth.
(Tobias Jefferies, 1674)
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