For the Battle of Britain Sunday (1976)

From the September 1976 issue of the Socialist Standard

Where's Blunsdon?

“Uncle Bert, where’s Blunsdon?”

“Blunsdon? Now only in my mind old chap.

The shapes of buildings are still clear But names and faces aren’t I fear.

My memory’s a leaking tap.”

“Uncle Bert, what were they like?”

“Who?”

“Blunsdon people. Just like you?”

“What questions! — some ways yes, like me. 

They ate and drank and worked and swore 

And after, drank and swore some more.

In these ways people are like me.”

“Did they sing hymns 

Like we do here at school?”

“Of course. Some did, although not all,

In several churches, one quite old —

(St. Leonards) — and it was dammed cold,

And — ah yes! I now recall 

A school service on a drowsy day,

Outside the church we heard a noise 

And, jumping with excitement, (as do boys)

We saw some bomber planes “at play.”

There they were, winking in their silver grace, 

Heading East, a pretence in fun 

To direct bombs at a Blunsdon 

in some ungodly foreign place.”

(Aye! The Lord speaks through his preachers, versed

In schizoid phrases such as these:

“By all means love thy enemies,

But for Christ’s sake kill ’em first”).