BRIAN & ANGELA

JOAN HUNTER DUNN ~ JOHN BETJEMAN (1941)

 

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