I’m for Parliament. You’re for the King.
It’s more important you lose than I win.
Taking a stand, there’s no sitting on the fence.
I’m for Cromwell. You’re against.
Your men, for their cavalry commander, bark.
Cocking their legs at Pym, jumping at Charles.
Capturing Rupert’s black mongrel, we cut off its lugs
And make it a Roundhead; A pox on you Royalist dogs!
At Nottingham, you raised your standard.
The blackest year I’ve ever had.
While chaos in the countryside continues to grow
Landlords, levellers and clubmen come to blows.
If you’re not on my side, you’re on the other.
Dividing the loyalties of wife and mother.
You’d think we could find some common ground
But the world and our hearts are turned upside down.
At Edgehill, bitter rivalry finally got the better of us
With russets and browns, greens and buffs.
As all turned grey in the gunpowder smoke,
Field-signs set us apart on our coloured coats.
We fire our matchlocks, attack and retreat,
As pikemen form hedgehogs, and die on their feet.
Though they may number four score and ten
We bury more toes and fingers than we do men.
You take the piss out of our New Model Army
Coining it The New Noddle in taverns round the country ;
But with your Queen’s Pocket Pistol renamed as Sweet Lips
We taste revenge with every sip!
I’m so under the influence, I can’t see straight.
Marching a vicious circle that just won’t break.
I’ll be fucked if I give up on this uncivil war!
That tyrant and traitor will pay for it all!
Published by aprettykettleofpoetry
I was born in Oxford but grew up in Devon. Then I moved to Italy at 28 where, to cut a long story short, I’ve been teaching English. I’ve lived in Cagliari, Sardinia since 1995.
For writing, I’ve been influenced by poets such as Phillip Larkin and WB Yeats and a great deal by music – loved it all my life – especially lyrics. I got a book of illustrated Beatles lyrics at 18 and that got me thinking to illustrate every poem I wrote. I liked that extra ingredient of something visual. I don’t consider myself an artist so doing collages with paper, scissors and glue was a great way to cheat a bit! Sometimes I illustrate poems with photos, or drawings and watercolours, and recently a few oil paintings which is very dfficult! I’ve had exhibitions of my collages which has been an added bonus. First and foremost I like writing. Everything comes from that. Now and again, I think about getting published, and then other things take over! I have written songs with Chicco Fresu too which appear now and again on this blog with the poem.
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