STATUE OF SIR JOHN BETJEMAN (2007) ST PANCRAS STATION
MISS J HUNTER DUNN ~ MISS J HUNTER DUNN
Furnished and burnished by Aldershot sun
What strenuous singles ~ we played after tea
We in the Tournament ~ you against me !
Love-thirty love-forty ~ oh weakness of joy
The speed of a swallow ~ the grace of a boy
With carefullest carelessness ~ gaily you won
I am weak from your loveliness ~ Joan Hunter Dunn
Miss Joan Hunter Dunn ~ Miss Joan Hunter Dunn
How mad I am ~ sad I am ~ glad that you won
The warm-handled racket is back in its press
But my shock-headed victor ~ she loves me no less !
The scent of the conifers ~ sound of the bath
The view from the bedroom of moss-dappled path
I struggle with double-end evening tie
For we dance at the Golf Club my victor and I
By roads \"not adopted\" by woodlanded ways
She drove to the Club in the late summer haze
Into nine-o\'clock Camberley ~ heavy with bells
And mushroomy ~ pinewoody ~ evergreen smells
Around us are Rovers and Austins afar
Above us the intimate roof of the car
And here on the right is the girl of my choice
The tilt of her nose and the chime of her voice
The scent of her wrap and the words never said
And the ominous ominous dancing ahead.
We sat in the car till twenty to one
and now I\'m engaged to MISS JOAN HUNTER DUNN !
Thanks for reading ~ comments welcome ~ Love BRIAN XOX
John Betjeman (1906 - 1984) was knighted in 1972 and
became Poet Laureate. For me he is the finest British Poet
of the 20th Century and a Lover & Preserver of Victorian &
Edwardian Architecture ~ There is a statue to him (2007)
in the restored St Pancras Station in London. His poetry
is perfect in Rhyme & Rhythm and choice of words ! We can
learn much from John and one can never improve A John
Betjeman POEM ! The reason I have posted a JB this
morning is because I am giving a Lecture on John Betjeman
The Man & His Poetry to a Mens Group this evening !
JB loved tall athletic GIRLS like Joan and the poem strikes a blow
for Women\'s Lib ! She beat him at Tennis and she was driving
the Hillman Motor ! Note there are no FOREIGN CARS mentioned
in the Poem ~ ALL BRITISH ! JOAN HUNTER DUNN was an actual
person who worked with John in the Ministry of Information. John
was excluded fsor Military Service on Health Grounds ~ not
because was a POET ! Love to all BRIAN XOXOX