John Betjeman
John Betjeman
Sir John Betjeman, CBEwas an English poet, writer, and broadcaster who described himself in Who's Who as a "poet and hack". He was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1972 until his death...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth28 August 1906
flower clouds silver-bells
And London shops on Christmas Eve Are strung with silver bells and flowers As hurrying clerks the City leave To pigeon-haunted classic towers, And marbled clouds go scudding by The many-steepled London sky
ask sufficient trifle
I know what I wanted to ask you;/ Is trifle sufficient for sweet?
cook phone
Phone for the fish-knives, Norman, / As Cook is a little unnerved; / You kiddies have crumpled the serviettes / And I must have things daintily served.
hunter miss
Miss J. Hunter Dunn, Miss J. Hunter Dunn,/ Furnish'd and burnish'd by Aldershot sun.
dying earth fun ill terrified
But I'm dying now and done for, / What on earth was all the fun for? / For I'm old and ill and terrified and tight.
adore full girl great sports strength
Pam, I adore you, Pam, you great big mountainous sports girl / Whizzing them over the net, full of the strength of five.
bear norfolk spirits
Spirits of well-shot woodcock, partridge, snipe / Flutter and bear him up the Norfolk sky.
english-poet faces full port
Silver and ermine and red faces full of port wine.
fall fit friendly humans
Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough. / It isn't fit for humans now.
rivers house church
Ludlow....is probably the loveliest town in England with its hill of Georgian houses ascending from the river Teme to the great tower of the cross-shaped church, rising behind a classic market building.
whispering reeds sound
A whispering and watery Norfolk sound Telling of all the moonlit reeds around.
happiness laughter giving
Now if the harvest is over, And the world cold, Give me the bonus of laughter, As I lose hold.
men thinking church
Lovers of Norfolk churches can never agree which is the best and I think one is either a Salle or a Cawston man.
majesty delight norfolk
I am still reeling with delight at the soaring majesty of Norfolk.