Speech

(Picture Credit - Obama by peter botting)

To me a poem is a Statement, even a Speech.

So, Friends, Britons and countrymen, lend me your ears;

I come to bury Britain, not to praise it.

The evils that empires do live long after them.

Colonial wrongs seem never put to right.

Achievements hidden away in dusty books

By historians, all honourable men (and women!).

Yet historians say the Brits were too ambitious

And too self-righteous by half.

For historians are honourable men (and women).

They say we must accept that we’re a tiny island nation

And accept our place in the world.

Yes, historians are honourable men (and women).

They say we were too ambitious.

But now, the world is threatened by dark forces,

And only the winner takes the spoils (and writes the history!).

Once more unto the breach us Brits must go,

To fight like tigers

And smite the foe.

Paul Butters