Sir Somebody Or Other

A typical National Trust library,
Timbered ceiling with dim lit wall lamps,
Books of all sizes, row after row,
The owner was a Sir Somebody or other,
With letters after his name,
A bit of a dandy who put it about,
His wife, Lady Whatshername kept it quiet,
He fathered three offspring from the village wenches,
Well, three that are known about,
Thats not mentioned on the information leaflet,
Well, it wouldn’t be would it,
The library’s oil pantings high out of reach,
Worth a fortune and all genuine,
Paid for by Sir Somebody or other,
With cash from the slave trade,
Thats not mentioned on the information leaflet,
Well, it wouldn’t be would it,
An elderly lady with pink hair and a monocle sits and writes,
She is documenting the library’s books,
And has been doing so for five years,
I know because I asked her,
I told her that Sir Somebody or other was a bit of a lad,
What with making the local ladies pregnant,
“Oh, that’s just a rumour, he was a fine upstanding man”,
I mentioned the slave trade and how it was a blemish on our history”,
And how Sir Somebody or other had reaped the befits,
She removed her monocle and said,
Very politely, in a National Trust way,
“Why do people like you visit places like this if you don’t like it”,
Now, honestly, did I say I didn’t like it,
Now did I?




Poetry by JohnJohn
Read 140 times
Written on 2023-03-07 at 07:01

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Ingvar Loco Nordin The PoetBay support member heart!
Striking and obvious!! The collection of books are of course valuable, even if Sir S lived down to the manners of his days. I see that you sometimes come up with something at the very last, which surprises, turns things around, opens another angle. In that way, your writings are similar to the best examples of a totally different style of writing; haikus - which should steer things around in the last line. Refreshing!
2023-03-13


jim The PoetBay support member heart!
Once again you've given us a glimpse of reality, and done it well.
2023-03-08


D G Moody
A witty descriptive poem. I liked how you took the reader along, and in doing so contrasted the antique library with the less than reputable founder.
2023-03-07


josephus The PoetBay support member heart!
Facing history in unblemished fashion is not fashionable but it is valuable. You’ve addressed that very well in this poem. Bravo!
2023-03-07