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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
VARIATION A A THEME BY T.W. ROLLESTON, by JOHN BETJEMAN Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography
First Line: Under the ground, on a saturday afternoon in winter
First Line: Under the ground, on a saturday afternoon in winter
Under the ground, on a Saturday afternoon in winter
Lies a mother of five,
And frost has bitten the purple November rose flowers
Which budded when she was alive.
They have switched on the street lamps here by the cemetery railing;
In the dying afternoon
Men from football, and women from Timothy White's and McIlroy's
Will be coming teawards soon.
But her place is empty in the queue at the International,
The greengrocer's queue lacks one,
So does the crowd at Mac Fisheries. There's no one to go to Freeman's
To ask if the shoes are done.
Will she, who was so particular, be glad to know that after
The tears, the prayers and the priest,
Her clothing coupons and ration book were handed in at the Food Office
For the files marked 'deceased' ?
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BUSINESS GIRLS by JOHN BETJEMAN
FOR A ROYAL WEDDING, 29 JULY 1981 by JOHN BETJEMAN
FOR THE QUEEN MOTHER by JOHN BETJEMAN
ON SEEING AN OLD POET IN THE CAFE ROYAL by JOHN BETJEMAN
IRELAND'S OWN OR THE BURIAL OF THOMAS MOORE by JOHN BETJEMAN
TWO VOYAGERS by EMILY DICKINSON
THE WOOING by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR