AFTERTHOUGHT

A ballade of royal progress

, -JOHN WELLS

Written on the occasion of HRH the Duke of Edinburgh playing polo on a bicycle.

There was a time, not very long ago, When twinkling Muggo's disrespectful quips Suggesting monarchy should deign to toe

The Scandinavian line in cycle clips

Made decent burghers burrow for their whips

And only satirists dared probe the dike By ending bulletins of royal trips: The Duke is playing polo on a bike.

But cruel, blind time weaves at the web of woe The once proud candle gutters down

and drips And nightmares of the past gain weight and grow

And seize us in their real substantial grips: The news is sent by semaphore to ships, Announcers blink and boggle at the mike, There seems to be a hiccup in the pips, The Duke is playing polo on a bike.

Must crown and sceptre, ermin'd pageant go? The muted pomp? Imagination flips— Prince Charles is on the Eamonn Andrews

Show, The Princess Anne wears slacks with kinky zips: The Snowdons stroll around eating fish and chips,

And while the royal household is on strike Her Majesty appears in kirbygrips, The Duke is playing polo on a bike.

ENVOI

Prince! Mind the greasy patch! Alas, he slips. The democratic oath. How apt! How statesmanlikel-

We fear no bloodier apocalypse, The Duke is playing polo on a bike.