IV: Fishcakes
(i)
We banned the bomb
twenty years ago.
They're banning it today.
I wonder whether banning bombs
Like zen and yoga, punk and gay
(it's in the glo$$ies)
has been made to pay.
Make love, make love,
not war, we said.
They're saying it today.
We made love all those years ago
(And then made hate,
the tears still flow)
And made the state a welfare state:
The rich are rooting for the poor
and wel-fed boobs flounce
LOVE NOT WAR -
Oh ban the bomb as much as you like,
have fun, make love, make hay -
What? Porton, children?
Didn't you know?
Porton - well now, years ago -
No - ban the bomb, be lib, be gay.
Porton's serious,
SECRET.
Ban that, see what they say.
(ii)
I lived a lie
but told the truth -
like killing a fly - the vibes are bad
(There is no God: oh true, how true!
But feel those vibes!
Oh yes, I know there is no God's
a lie.)
I told the truth: you shied away
(The Government must not be held
to ransom by
a terrorist on hunger-strike:
Oh true, so true. And yet could I - ?)
I told the truth (Don't be deceived
by flattery and a friendly smile,
a loan, a bone, a cup of tea,
the money's bad, the hours are long,
and it's not me it's them that's wrong,
I've tried, I've tried - )
and all the while, stoney-eyed
you stared at me ...
The facts, the facts facts facts of life
("the facts of life, my dear")
You should have been impressed, you weren't -
of course you weren't
the vibes were bad
and nor was I -
the facts were true the life remained
a lie.
I could not cope with you except
with you alone.
One night I slept
there on the ground
outside your door
I did not dare to ring the bell
be told to go
I was as near as I could get.
Another, I swept before you came
and polished the leaves of the rubber plant
swept and polished
the vibes were good
were good were good were good
you didn't come.
And when you came
you entered the kitchen unannounced
beautiful, so beautiful
Fish cakes, I mumbled, I made them, look.
(iii)
Requited love's rejuvenating -
So they say - but unrequited
Love's a wound: a parasite
Landing on an aging tree
Growing on it night and day
Ever lovelier but less free
Upon the love that you excited
Rooted in the wound in me.
(iv)
Worse than the kiss of betrayal
Is the kiss of farewell
The kiss with a promise, kiss
for a fool.
Do what you must. If you have to,
Go, go quickly,
Go where you will
but surely
You didn't have to do that.
Oh give me Judith's
Kiss without promise, gentle
kiss of death.
Worse than the Judas kiss
Are soft lips that mock
That kill with a promise, kiss
with a look.
Worse than the kiss of betrayal
The kiss of farewell
Kiss with a promise, kiss
for a fool.
