Francis Bennion - Poetry - Poemotions

My white-haired cable-thin body is kept trim
wiry and muscular with only rare palpitations
these scars from my abdominal operation are fading fast
for appearance I have recently taken to contact lenses

That very new young girl in my outer office
is, I notice, taut and sharp and spry
if you touch May then June springs out
I'm told that's the way with girls nowadays

Start of page 283 in the book

I dress modishly, and only rarely make use of my stick
by dieting, jogging and other expedients I keep my stomach tight
from behind you would take me for forty-six
they all say my mind is sharper than it has ever been

That new young girl in the outer office smiles sweetly
displaying her splendid teeth
the firm curve of May's bosom yells to be felt
but I am deaf to all that

I have a very great deal to offer such an ingenue as this
guiding her through the hazards with hindsight polished over years
the personnel officer disclosed under my skilful probing
that May's father leaves a very great deal to be desired

That new young body tenses me I admit
in the night I dwell on it nude
convinced I remain entitled to such joys
but it is unlikely I can convince anyone else

Painful duty conducted me along the paths of my useful life
I am not to be put off by fake notions of generation gaps
the new young girl must benefit if I can save her from loutish attentions
it is my clear duty benevolently to bestow on May my - er - protection

III

The Member of Parliament

In public life we have no desires of our own
the tradition of service
whatever our nerve is
bids us reap the crop we have sown

On the platform we are obliged to present the face
of the father who knows
that whatever he sows
the yield can be admitted to display no disgrace

Start of page 284 in the book

I understand all this, having a university degree in public life
myself, in that role,
the assertive prole,
will insist on cutting through like the proverb's knife

That cut compensates for private dissatisfactions.
with an instinct to rule
I am treated almost as a fool
by close dear ones ill-quipped for appropriate interactions

I acknowledge my lack of ability to govern that family brood
they drive me to tears
like a pack of heartless bears
but that does not mean my God-given capacity for governing must be eschewed

I am well-equipped
to govern you
and, by God,
that is what I mean to do.

The Perpetual Curate

Matters are arranged differently nowadays
but nevertheless the office I hold
once known as a perpetual curacy, and now something much humbler
still has the capacity to instil awe, at least in this its least significant incumbent

A curate of souls
O a curate of souls
how could I in my humility be
a curate of souls!

Even when a small boy I felt myself to be the channel of Grace
glowing with Godly love, I took Christ's large crippled body into my grasp
it was awkward, and a nuisance, but still I felt myself to be privileged
while I watched the others playing football, calling me Holy Joe

Start of page 285 in the book

A bearer of Christ
O a bearer of Christ
how could I in my humility be
a bearer of Christ!

Then, and still more a little later, I was uncomfortably aware
of an obstacle to Grace
denying my body, others' I found I could not deny
on my knees I might presume to deny them, but not when standing erect

A channel of Grace
O a channel of Grace
how could I in my humility be
a channel of Grace!

I must stop beating about the bush (O the bush, O the beating!)
the office I hold requires me to be perpetual, and to be
a curate of souls
my master Christ wants me to be achingly and perpetually spiritual

A spirit in flesh
O a spirit in flesh
how could I in my humility be
a spirit in flesh!

Either my bodily desires will torment me for ever or I must yield to them
but Christ tells me, and I believe Him, that yielding will get me absolutely nowhere
at this point a sweet old lady uncannily resembling my sainted Mother
asks me to hear her confession

A confession of sin
O a confession of sin
how could I in my humility hear
a confession of sin!

Start of page 286 in the book

Matters are arranged differently nowadays, but still not differently enough
as a perpetual curate I am perpetually tried beyond flesh's enduring
with all due respect, that huge crippled Body tests me
more than can be described as reasonable

The Father

Whilom you go dancing, dancing along
singing your song
singing, singing your youthful song.

You can stride carefree
assuredly scarefree
immune to the tune of the know-it-all.

I watch you go dancing, dancing by
immune to the elderly know-all tune
I see you dance along young man
I watch you go dancing by.

Who pays the musicians you do not care
wildly throw your mad cap in the air
whoever rules you dismiss with a youthful shout
- pay up, you cry - and KEEP OUT!

This old man is the payer, as you've known for long
singing your song, singing, singing your youthful song!
you can go carefree, free of scare
just as long as old Dad is there.

Immune to the tune of the know-it-all
as you go dancing by
immune to your Dad's egotistical cry
while you go dancing along young one
while you go dancing by

Start of page 287 in the book

In a year or two (I point out with regret)
as you sing your song, as you ringingly sing your youthful song
you will sink careworn
assuredly scareworn
in tune with the tune of the know-it-all
no more to go dancing, dancing by
immune to the elderly know-all tune

I see you dance along young man
I watch you go dancing by
Who pays the musicians you do not care
wildly throw your mad cap in the air
whoever rules you dismiss with a youthful, truthful shout
vainly cry pay up, and KEEP OUT!

VI
Again (and Finally) the Vice-Principal

The above hint at motivation
(where, O where is our subvention!)
was entertained by one or two of milliards
enrolling in The School of Inappropriate Desire

If you recognise yourself - but you don't and won't
having desires doubtless that are otherwise
or perhaps resembling some of our failed applicants
who ask Who is to be the Judge of Inappropriateness?

Such people we quickly get rid of
to gain entry here you must already be aware
there can be only one Judge of the Appropriateness of your Desire
that enlightened person being, as I scarcely have need to remind you,

You!

Start of page 288 in the book

Uncle's Ankle

Uncle strides whitely through the dark
fitfully lit by an odd small spark

His dry ankle, sticking through skin
hitting fellow bone
in the dark, walking the park near the graves
strikes that avuncular spark

We remember well
he tortured, grimacing mutely
no dark was sparked
while he lived in and out of us

Now, as he strides
without matter round his bone
to make the old dry thoughts
our sought emotion glows

As the cold wind blows, and the stars shine
as the moon hides fitfully in the clouds
and the dark air fills our faces
blowing over dew-filled grass

We glimpse with late pity through the dark
Uncle's ankle's odd small spark