When I was young, food was an essential not a luxury
With Occupation memories we looked forward to our tea
We'd quietly put away our hula hoops and stop our skipping
Then head into the parlour for some tasty bread and dripping
Renoir voyaged to the Isle of Guernsey in 1883
Painting rounded nudes down beside the sea
When he’d captured all those fleshy scenes of skinny dipping
I imagine he’d head off home for some well-earned ...
The intrigue of Versailles got sexed up on prime-time TV
Imagining the shenanigans in the court of Louis X one V
But when they finished with all that bodice-ripping
I like to think they’d round it off with some ...
In seedy old London Town, murderers added to the degradation
Though they perpetrated foul deeds, there’s no insinuation
That Jack the Ripper, or notorious poisoner evil Dr Crippen
Turned their chopped up victims into human...
The moptop Beatles wowed the screaming 60s crowds
With their modern look and guitars playing so loud
I’m sure that when they weren’t gigging or day tripping
John would make them all some lovely ...
The film Where Eagles Dare, set in World War Two
Features Nazis, traitors and snowy mountains too
During the cable car scene, every time so gripping
I find myself reaching for an extra slice of...
Of hellraising quartet, actors Burton, Reed and Harris
O’Toole ended up in Corsica - he’d started out in Paris
To soak up all that booze that they’d been gulping not sipping
I bet they still had room for a round of ...
So in these times of lockdown take heart from the above
Use the time for reflection about all the things you love
People, places, treasured pets and sneaky afternoon kipping
And most of all a hearty wedge of good old bread and dripping!
Joan Etoile
Image : ©Kim Connor
