Grandfather (1869 - 1960)

 His house still stands, its gardens now much overgrown, a sea of vetch and purple sage

the mullioned windows sightless look upon the old beech shaded brook

and each reflects a vanished age.

I remember, as a boy, a plaque recalling  Dartmouth days

a naval sword, an oaken chest, medals laid on verdant baize

and, on a chair a leather book extolling Shackleton and Cook

His house was built from Cotswold stone, with a roof of Cornish slate

his pantry groaned with the best Scotch beef, Welsh coal burned in his grate.

He had  God in his heaven the Queen on her throne

an empire eclipsing Imperial Rome,

and was master of all that his eye might  survey

as he clattered through Chobham each Sunday to pray.

We all had a kettle, we all let it leak. Our not repairing it made it worse!!

Now, we haven’t had tea for a week, and the bottom is out of the universe.!!

The Clyde, the mighty Clyde and Tyne from where his cherished Dreadnoughts came

are silent now, the yards have died, and only empty slips remain.

Sheffield Steel and Sheffield plate, the way of Rhonda coal have gone

like Brierely Glass and Cornish Slate, consigned into oblivion.

Replaced by bright new shopping malls where folk with new found wealth acquire

cellphones, salmon , sides of gammon, anything their hearts desire

Glass decanters, plastic Santas, pre-packed puddings, pre whipped cream

mint and mustard cake and custard, everything save self-esteem.

One hundred years ago it seems men were not made like you and me

Proud they were, and certain sure of where they stood in history

“The workshop of the world” they said, and so it would forever be

I pity them their self-deceit, I envy them their certainty

They could not make a game-boy play,  or work in Mr Tesco’s shops

sorting trays of broccoli or stacking shelves with coco-pops

And those that can, they may well ponder on the years that lie ahead

and, when they do, perhaps they  wonder if they’ might be better dead.

I now own a perfect kettle, leaks no longer need I fear!

It’s supremely efficient, in no way deficient, and made, I believe,

in Korea.