After
After The War
After the war was after the war.
There was a big long sigh
And a belch
A bit of sick in aftertaste
But everybody was glad
That it was over.
Everybody said it was
After the war.
Is what everybody
Who was there said.
During the war
Was a reason for after the war.
Completely BIONIC.
And then peaceful
But that was long after the war.
Long after the war
They decided that during the war
Had been a real struggle
And they all went home
Without souls
All got married
Without hope
All worked together
In despair
Because at least the war
Was interesting
I was born so long after the war
That my grandparents
Were practically dead.
When I was young
I took extra classes
In everything
Felt tired at bed time.
And grown ups had gone
Through so much
That they couldn’t sleep.
At least the young inherited sleep.
I heard it was after the war
That it was generations ago
It was something for book people
And wintry churches.
Now it means walking sticks.
It means bread and butter pudding.
Sitting in sunshine with pigeons
Is what the war means now.
Arguing about the war
Is a bit dull
When half the people aren’t
Here to say their piece
Apparently its an experience.
My C.V. is terribly dull
Because I haven’t
Been through the war
If I had only been alive
Fifty years ago
Perhaps I could appreciate
What the word means
The chosen association for war
Is sacrifice
No it’s not
Is love
Not just
Is freedom
Who chose word before the war?
Love sacrifices freedom possibly
Because masochism
Is battenburg fourth
Of all reason
When Jesus has the gall
To publicise pain
One sense is departure
And one sense is lounge
The idea of cake without tea
Is not that fond of cake.
Old people are holy
And far from hearing
After the war there was lots of cake
Lots of petrol and salami
Chips were exchanged for holidays
And all the young people
Felt better that they were
After the war
And all the old people
Are so annoying
Because they just rot
And live in discomfort
Like the ageing war
And the slow Chinese burn
Of sorrow without release
Surrey is rather built up now
But it is still nicer
Than Gloucestershire
In some ways.
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