Old England

[ray miller]

Now we have made England great once again
or, at least, harder to breach; noses in the air,
we stare stony-faced at the clique across the way,
and discuss the exceptional weather.

Immigration has been reduced to a trickle,
for someone must clean the lavatories.
Manufacturing made more competitive
now we sell arms to both sides of each conflict.

Our academies prioritise the 3 N’s –
numeracy, knitting and mnemonics.
We strive to create a common language
by excluding anything but English.

Queues outstretch the food banks and the NHS,
but we can always fund a foreign bombing.
For they also serve who only stand and wait
beyond the gate with their hands holding nothing.

[David]

Excellent, Ray. And depressing, of course.

Our academies prioritise the 3 N’s –
numeracy, knitting and mnemonics.

That's brilliant.

Cheers

David

[lorijones]

Large dose of cynicism and irony. Medicine did me good and I didn't have to hold my nose when I took it. Thanks.

[Firebird]

Fantastic Ray. Love it and it reads so well. I love the first two lines of the final stanza but I'm not so sure about its third line. It reads a bit clunky or maybe contrived to me, especially when the rest reads so clean.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Cheers,

Tristan

Now we have made England great once again
or, at least, harder to breach; noses in the air,
we stare stony-faced at the clique across the way,
and discuss the exceptional weather.

Immigration has been reduced to a trickle,
for someone must clean the lavatories.
Manufacturing made more competitive
now we sell arms to both sides of each conflict.

Our academies prioritise the 3 N’s –
numeracy, knitting and mnemonics.
We strive to create a common language
by excluding anything but English.

Queues outstretch the food banks and the NHS,
but we can always fund a foreign bombing.
For they also serve who only stand and wait
beyond the gate with their hands holding nothing.

[ray miller]

Thanks, David, Lori, Tristan. Pleased you like it.
Tristan - For they also serve who only stand and wait - It's a famous line of Churchill's, so obviously it's magnificent.

David
Our academies prioritise the 3 N’s –
numeracy, knitting and mnemonics. I'm not sure about knitting. I replaced it with nostalgia, then changed my mind again.

[Firebird]

Obviuosly.