Grantchester revisited
CHRISTOPHER HOLLIS
Cafe des Westens, Berlin, July 1969 In place of Strife?—Du Lieber Gott Here am I sweating, well and hot. Here workers rising with the lark All earn their undervalued mark And every union man is bold
To work exactly as he's told.
Here even students, fresh from school, Prefer to demonstrate by rule. God! I will pack and take a train If Southern Region runs again! For England's the one land I know Where everyone is going slow. For there on Merseyside and Humber The stevedores down tools by number Ah, God, to see the branches stir Across the docks at Manchester And watch the vessels go, by damn, To load instead at Rotterdam. While union leaders give their oath To back a vague, unpunctual growth, Shop stewards, rising in their dozens, All cock their snooks at Mr Cousins. For who can stop, when workers like, An English unofficial strike?
Stands the church-clock at ten to four? Or has it broken down once more?
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