Two Verses on Saint George’s Day

 

I was listening to BBC on  Saint George’s day 23 April 2008 when the presenter, a man named Owen Bennett-Jones, asked the listening audience for a poem in honor of the day. I submitted the following as an attempt at something intellectual for our friend with an Oxford degree:

On Saint George’s Day 

The dragon symbolized to the medieval

a power civilized, yet evil.

Saint George withstood this standard politic

and met his end roasted on a stick.

He stands for all that’s true, a maiden’s savior,

An example for our youth of dashed good behavior.

So as I ponder what has been said and written,

I fail to see how it at all connects to Britain.

 Bennett-Jones read this poem on air, finding it clever, but criticizing its negative view of the glorious empire. So feeling instructed in wisdom and humbled in spirit I wrote and submitted the following:

To England and Saint George,

To England and Saint George,

I lift my flagon high!

And to the blood red cross on white,

Unfurling in the sky.

And to the lovely English tongue

Used ‘cross the world in all the zones,

And to all the charming Englishmen,

Like Owen Bennett-Jones.

Which he again read on air for all the English-speaking world to hear. Not bad for ten minuets work.