poetry

LAST QUARTERFAMILY LIFE IN ENGLANDTHE SURRENDER OF PORTSTANLEY[14 th Jun 1982, Newcastle, England]We have just heard on the radio,the Prime Minster announcingthat the Argentineans have surrendered,to the British forces on the Falklands.Everyone in our house gave a greatcheer.WHAT HAPPENED TO HIPPIES[27 th Jun – 2 nd Jul 1982, 259 Shields Rd, Newcastle]It used to be drugs, now its booze,What happened to the hash and the acid?That went with the clothes, like fashion–Blue jeans with holes and arse hangingout,Hair the length of a floor mop – and acrotchThat never got washed night to night.No one really cared about V.D,It was something of which to be proud.Those dark lines from tripping tilldawn,The tiny crow’s feet, wrinkled andformedFrom keeping the dope smoke out of theeyes;Or the blindness caused by dance hallstrobe lights,Beating the life out of rock-an-rolltunes,Blasting the ear-drums in a dance frenziedroom –A sea of hair, and ocean of bare feet,Getting their rocks off as best theycould.Now that same guy who wouldn’t work,Who collected his S,S for something todo,That same guy who used to say ‘Shoveit!’Instead of putting on a tie for job interview–This same guy with his jeans wornthrough,Now looks like the rest of the middleagecrew‘Hell, if you can’t beat them, jointhem!’Hippies are now off drugs, and well intobooze.THE FALL OF SIR CRESTWELL[10.15pm, 20 th Jul 1982, Newcastle]After that fella broke into the palace,It was scapegoats and hangings theywanted;Nothing to do with Her Majesty at all,It was her bodyguard Sir Crestwell theyhauntedFor nine years Sir Crestwell had guardedthe Queen,I wouldn’t want the job for a millionpounds –And after nine years they made him resign,After telling the world he was queer.Everyone knows he wasn’t disgraced bythe break-in,Or his prostitute friend’s threats ofblackmail –It was the fact he was plainly homosexual,A cruel admission that ended his career.110