Don’t ask where this came from – I don’t know.
I was out cycling today and thinking about 9/11 – the ten year anniversary is coming up, of course. For some reason I then thought of the “Cautionary Tale” by Hillaire Belloc called “Matilda”, which, for reasons I won’t go into, I have memorised. If you don’t know it, go have a read!
I think it was brought to mind by remembering the firemen of 9/11 which we saw a program about the other day. Says the poem:
Within an hour the gallant band
were charging in on every hand
from Putney, Hackney Downs and Bow
with courage high and hearts a-glow.
Anyway, as I pedalled I put the two ideas together and started recomposing “Matilda” in light of 9/11. I got this far…
Our George he had such thirst for oil
It made his country proud and spoiled
His dad, whose term some years ago
Had kept the price-per-barrel low
Apparently supported him
Their efforts, they changed everything
For once, towards the noon of day
Some terrorists grew tired of play
And finding they were not alone
Went planning terror quite unknown
They hijacked two innocent planes
And took the towers down in flames
It’s not quite the tribute to the firemen that I think I set out to produce, but it kinda works.
I think it should end:
And later, when his troops returned
Our George found all his oil was burned.
Anyone fancy filling in the middle?