Voici la différence

François Hollande due to meet the Queen

The Telegraph, 10 July 2012

This is truth,

a passage hung with old masterly proof

of succession, each oil on canvas

upholding this: Elizabeth.

And how the monkey rattles the bones

of his cage, it takes my breath

away. This grand Republican stands

nerved to parlay with hands damp,

sweating her gloved fingertips

being touched to these presidential lips

and remembering to release

my grip. A throne is after all just a seat,

said Bonaparte, but how odd

to be an atheist received by God.

(c) 2012 Slush Poet

The Year of Wringing Hands

Navy fires 21-gun Jubilee salute

Littlehampton Gazette, 6 February 2012

Nicholas Witchell’s on TV

telling a story I already knew

mattered less than an ant’s fart to me.

Cut to Pathé newsreel, cue

the fawning bishop of Durham, then trail

any one of the relentless slew

of documentaries planned, a gale

blown out of the butts of also rans —

Lord Archer, if he’s not in jail,

the James Whitakers, the Jennie Bonds,

and of course, old Nick himself — and so

begins a year of wringing hands

and concerts headlined by Status Quo.

(c) 2012 Slush Poet